ENMU Grads Honored

ENMU Grads Henderson, Cooper Earn NFHS National Honors

Kevin Wilson/Clovis News Journal

A pair of ENMU graduates were named National Federation of State High School Associations coaches of the year in their respective sports.

Artesia football coach Cooper Henderson (MED 79, BS 77) and Roswell boys basketball coach Britt Cooper (MED 93, BS 86) are the fifth and sixth New Mexico coaches to earn national honors, and the first two to win in the same year.

The coaches, both state-level winners in previous years, were notified of their national awards in January by Buster Mabry of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.

“To win the national award, that was a little bit of a surprise,” said Cooper, a Floyd native and former Dora coach. “That’s great recognition for New Mexico; that’s an honor.”

Henderson claimed NFHSA’s state and regional award in 2007 and is the first NM coach to earn the national football honor. Cooper, a 2010 state winner, is the 2nd basketball coach to win the honor after Gallup’s John Lomansey won for girls basketball in 2006.

Cooper Henderson

Henderson, fourth in state history with a career record of 293-103-1, has led Artesia to 14 of its 29 state championships since his arrival in 1989. He also holds a state championship from Ruidoso in 1985 and is a member of the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame with his father, former Artesia coach L.G. Henderson.

“I think any time you get an honor, you just feel blessed,” said Henderson. “Those things don’t happen without lots of people being involved. The community, the young people you work with, your coaching staff and administration. And I’m sure Buster played a role in making 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 for a year before transferring to Sul Ross State to play basketball. He later returned to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Britt Cooper

“It’s a great place to go,” Cooper said. “I was raised in Floyd, so I was a Roosevelt County kid anyway. There’s a lot of good people, not only at Eastern, but across the state. It’s what keeps me in coaching.”

Cooper didn’t win a state title until his 18th season coaching, but won three in his last seven seasons and claimed his 400th career win last season.

“It’s just a case of building the program over the years,” said Cooper. “This is my 22nd year as head coach. When I took over we had a lot of work to do. Over the last 15 years, the success has come. Winning breeds winning.”

“These kids expect to win every time. That doesn’t always happen, but that’s the mindset the kids have.”