ENMU Grads Henderson, Cooper Earn NFHS National Honors
it happen. You’re just appreciative of all of those people.”
Cooper, who led Floyd to a 1982 Class 1A title game appearance his senior year, attended ENMU Britt Cooper Cooper Henderson By: Kevin Wilson for a year before Clovis News Journal Henderson claimed NFHSA’s state and transferring to Sul Ross State to play regional award in 2007 and is the first basketball. He later returned to earn NM coach to earn the national football his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. A pair of ENMU graduates were honor. Cooper, a 2010 state winner, is named National Federation of State “It’s a great place to go,” Cooper said. the 2nd basketball coach to win the High School Associations coaches of “I was raised in Floyd, so I was a honor after Gallup’s John Lomansey the year in their respective sports. Roosevelt County kid anyway. There’s won for girls basketball in 2006. a lot of good people, not only at Artesia football coach Cooper Eastern, but across the state. It’s what Henderson, fourth in state history Henderson (MED 79, BS 77) and keeps me in coaching.” with a career record of 293-103-1, Roswell boys basketball coach Britt has led Artesia to 14 of its 29 state Cooper (MED 93, BS 86) are the fifth Cooper didn’t win a state title until his championships since his arrival and sixth New Mexico coaches to 18th season coaching, but won three earn national honors, and the first two in 1989. He also holds a state in his last seven seasons and claimed championship from Ruidoso in 1985 to win in the same year. his 400th career win last season. and is a member of the New Mexico The coaches, both state-level winners Sports Hall of Fame with his father, former Artesia coach L.G. Henderson. “It’s just a case of building the program in previous years, were notified of over the years,” said Cooper. “This is their national awards in January by my 22nd year as head coach. When Buster Mabry of the New Mexico High “I think any time you get an I took over we had a lot of work to do. honor, you just feel blessed,” said School Coaches Association. Over the last 15 years, the success has Henderson. “Those things don’t come. Winning breeds winning.” happen without lots of people being “To win the national award, that was a involved. The community, the young little bit of a surprise,” said Cooper, a people you work with, your coaching “These kids expect to win every time. Floyd native and former Dora coach. That doesn’t always happen, but that’s staff and administration. And I’m “That’s great recognition for New the mindset the kids have.” sure Buster played a role in making Mexico; that’s an honor.”
SAVE THE DATE: 82nd Annual Homecoming MONDAY, OCT. 10 Songfest, 7-9 p.m., Campus Union Building (CUB) Ballroom TUESDAY, OCT. 11 Movie on the Lawn, 7-9 p.m., Greek Park THURSDAY, OCT. 13 Homecoming Pageant, 7-9 p.m., CUB Ballroom FRIDAY, OCT. 14 Homecoming Golf Experience, 8 a.m.-noon or 1-5 p.m. Homecoming Picnic, 5-6 p.m., University President’s Home, 1600 W Cherry St Alumni Volleyball Game, 6 p.m., Greyhound Arena Bonfire, 8 p.m., Greyhound Arena
SATURDAY, OCT. 15 41st Annual Foundation Awards Breakfast, 8-10 a.m., CUB Ballroom *Invitation and pre-registration required Homecoming Parade, 11 a.m., Down S Ave C, right onto 18th St Sodexo Buffet, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Crossroads, CUB Homecoming Football Game, 3 p.m., Greyhound Stadium Athletic Hall of Honors, 6:30-7 p.m., CUB Peanut Valley Festival, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Roosevelt County Fairgrounds SUNDAY, OCT. 16 Peanut Valley Festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Roosevelt County Fairgrounds
Green & Silver | May 2016
13
