NMPreps.com's 2016 Coaches of the Year
Class 6A - Ron Murphy - Rio Rancho
The Rio Rancho Rams finished the season 25-6 on the year under Head Coach Ron Murphy losing to the Carlsbad Cavemen in the finals 2-1. Year in and year out, Murphy continues to keep Rio Rancho atop of the 6A elite regardless of talent or pitching depth. The Rams entered the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed defeating Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and Cleveland in the state playoff tournament.
Class 5A - Wes Leplatt - Aztec
Last year the Aztec Tigers were 12-14 and were the No. 14 seed in the Class 5A State Tournament. In steps 1st Year Head Coach Wes Leplatt who has ties to Durango, Colorado and the Tigers win an incredible 20 games and earn the No. 6 seed in the state playoffs this year reaching the quarterfinals. The Tigers return some very good talent into next season with guys like Kyler Duggins and Spencer Heyden returning.
Class 4A - Paul Huitt - Sandia Prep
Over the last three years Sandia Prep is 80-12 overall and against New Mexico competition over the last two seasons the Sundevils are a remarkable 56-1. The 4A Powerhouse rolled through the competition again in 2016 outscoring the teams they faced in the state tournament by a combined score of 60-17, in the finals they defeated Portales 13-0.
Class 3A - Ty Thatcher - Texico
Head Coach Ty Thatcher brought home Texico’s first state baseball title since the 2005 season defeating the Pecos Panthers in the finals 6-2. On the year the Wolverines were 25-4 outscoring the competition this season by 181 runs with 7 shutouts.
Class 2A/1A - Caleb King - Melrose
The Melrose Buffs are 31-5 over the last two years under Head Coach Caleb King with two state championships. Pretty impressive for King who has been at Melrose for just two seasons. This year the Buffs went 17-4 on the year and ended the season riding a 13 game winning streak beating McCurdy in the flans 4-0 thanks to a no-hitter posted by Senior Wyatt Williams.