RUIDOSO FOOTBALL COACH FEELS RIGHT AT HOME
Greg Crow is getting his first head coaching opportunity at a place he’s quite familiar with. Crow is taking over at his alma mater, Ruidoso High School. “Taking over a program like that, my alma mater, that has been so successful over the years, gave me so many reasons to take the job,” said Crow, who graduated from Ruidoso in 2006. “I have a lot of deep-rooted relationships in Ruidoso and I’m excited to reinvest in those and everybody is excited for me and the program. It’s been incredible to dive back into those relationships.”
As if leading the same program you once played for isn’t enough pressure, Crow takes over a defending state championship squad. The Warriors won the Class 3A State Championship in 2022, beating St. Michael’s in the final 12-0. Kief Johnson retired as Ruidoso head coach after the season, but will remain as the school’s athletic director.
“Keif has been supportive in me just being myself, he wants me to just do what I love and be myself. The poor guy answers all my calls, day or night,” Crow joked. “Having him around is truly a blessing,”
Crow spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, working with the quarterbacks and running backs. Prior to his work with the Storm, Crow spent 10 years as an assistant at Ruidoso.
“I’ve learned a lot from all the head coaches I’ve been with, Coach Garza most recently, Coach Ridenour before that, Coach Johnson before that,” said Crow. “Coach Garza recently took over from a championship coach program and I watched the way he did it.”
“Coach Ridenour texted me saying, ‘Throw away the rear-view mirror and dive in,” said Crow.
After learning from three different championship-winning coaches, Crow hopes to blaze his own path and get there someday. “I love football, I love kids,” explained Crow. “You always hope you have better men than you do football players. If you dive into your championship process, the product will come.”
Ruidoso will be young this year with only 6 seniors on the roster, including offensive/defensive lineman and captain Tim Sanchez. “I will have a lot of positions where guys can earn some spots through hard work,” said Crow.
Crow and the Warriors open the season August 17th at Gadsden.
