NMAA ANNOUNCES HALL OF FAME ‘CLASS OF 2025’
The New Mexico Activities Association, in conjunction with the NMAA Hall of Fame Committee, announces the Class of 2025 for induction into the NMAA Hall of Fame. The NMAA Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at a banquet during the New Mexico High School Sports Summer Conference, to be held the evening of July 19th at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Paul Benoit – Floyd Municipal Schools
Paul Benoit is the 117th inductee into the NMAA Hall of Fame, with a career in education, coaching and administration that spans nearly 30 years. Benoit received his Bachelor’s Degree from the College of Santa Fe in 1986 and his Master’s Degree from Eastern New Mexico University in 1991. During his coaching, teaching and administrative career, Benoit worked at Tucumcari Schools, Estancia Schools, Animas Schools and Floyd Schools. Benoit was named NM Superintendent of the Year for the 2013-2014 school year and was inducted into the EPAC Hall of Honor in 2017, for his support of academic and athletic programs in the region and state. Benoit also was inducted into the NMCEL Administrator Hall of Fame (2016-17) and has served on the NMAA Board of Directors and continues to serve on the Appeals Committee. Since retirement, Benoit continues to serve on and chairs the NMAA Appeals Committee. He also served on several educational organization committees, including NM Middle School Association, NM Coalition of Educational Leaders, NM Superintendents Association, and the NM Retired Superintendent Association and is a member of NMREA (Retired Educators). Benoit has been married to his college sweetheart, Lucia, since 1986. They have three children, Matthew, Alexis, and Hannah, all of whom are Floyd graduates. They also have a “bonus daughter”, Jesica, a young lady they took in and fostered through graduation. In all, Paul and Lucia have 18 grandchildren.
Bill Green – Reserve Independent Schools
Bill Green is the 118th inductee into the NMAA Hall of Fame, with a career in education that stretches almost 40 years, and counting. Bill Green graduated from Quemado High School in 1978, after an athletic career as a four-year letterman in football, basketball and track and field. He would earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University and received his Master’s in Education Administration from Western New Mexico University. Bill Green’s first teaching job was as a 6th grade instructor in Quemado in 1986. Shortly thereafter, he began coaching basketball. In 1997, Bill Green was named the Albuquerque Journal Class A Basketball Coach of the Year. For two years, Bill Green was the principal at Ruidoso High School before returning to Quemado. In addition to his coaching duties, Bill Green served as the Superintendent at Quemado Schools from 2001-2014, and the Superintendent for both Quemado and Reserve Schools from 2012-2014. Since 2021, he’s been serving as the Superintendent and Girls Basketball Coach for Alamo Schools. His dedication to the education system of New Mexico includes serving on the NMAA Board of Directors, 2 of those terms as vice president. In addition to his time on the Board of Directors, he has served in areas such as the NMAA Sport Specific Committee for basketball and track and field, and served on the NMAA Appeals Committee and the Bylaws Committee. Bill Green also provided leadership by serving as President of the New Mexico School Superintendents Association, New Mexico Coalition of School Administrators, and New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders. Bill Green was named the New Mexico Superintendent of the Year in 2018. Bill married his high school sweetheart, Dawn Rae, during their senior year of high school. They have four children, Michael, Dustin, Cody and Lillian. Bill and Dawn Rae have 11 grandchildren.
Dickie Roybal – Melrose High School
Dickie Roybal is the 119th inductee into the NMAA Hall of Fame, with a career in education and coaching that spanned over three decades. His nine state championships in 6-man and 8-man football and his six runners-up trophies as head coach show evidence of his success. Dickie graduated from a Fort Sumner High School where he participated in football, basketball and track. He received his Bachelor’s degree from ENMU and his Master’s from Wayland Baptist University. His role as an educator includes working as a Spanish teacher, Athletic Director and Principal at Melrose High School for most of his career. Dickie Roybal serves, or has served, on the following: NMAA Commission, NMAA Foundation Board, NMAA Hall of Fame committee, NMAA Bylaws Committee, NMAA Re-Alignment Committee, NMHSCA Football Selection Committee, NMHSCA Football District Chair and the NMAA Appeals Committee. Along with his many Coach of the Year Honors, in 2018 and 2024 Dickie was chosen as the Athletic Director of the Year. Coach Roybal was inducted into the New Mexico Coaches Hall of Honor in 2023. While serving Melrose as Athletic Director, or Assistant Athletic Director, for 17 years, Melrose won seven consecutive NMAA Director’s Cups, with a grand total of 11, overseeing 34 state championships and 17 runners-up trophies. Coach Roybal is married to his wife, Cindy, and they have five children and three grandchildren. Each of the children has been heavily involved in athletics and activities at Melrose High School.
The NMAA Hall of Fame was established in 1976 and is comprised of an elite group of accomplished individuals who have made significant contributions to interscholastic athletics and activities in New Mexico. In order to be considered, nominees must show great support of the NMAA’s philosophy and objectives, they must have a combination of involvement in formulating regulations and procedures for various interscholastic education programs, and they must have a minimum of 25 years of service, 20 of which must have been in New Mexico. Nominations are then screened by the NMAA Hall of Fame Selection Committee which consists of current and former leaders within interscholastic athletics and activities. The committee meets and then selects a maximum of four individuals for induction. The Class of 2025 – Paul Benoit, Bill Green, and Dickie Roybal – will represent the 117th, 118th, and 119th members of this prestigious group.
NMAA Hall of Fame Press conference
