PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLO LIROSI

Albuquerque, New Mexico- New Mexico is a big state, and there are a ton of coaches doing phenomenal things. At CPS, we want to highlight a coach each week to showcase some of the great things happening, spotlighting people who might go under the radar.

Third, we have Albuquerque high school’s Carlo LiRosi who is the defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs football team. Here are the questions we asked him.

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Q: Could I get your first and last name, your role, and the team that you coach for?

A: Carlo LiRosi — Defensive Coordinator at Albuquerque High School

Q: Did you play football in high school? If so, what was your experience? If not, what is the background in football?

A: Yes, I played at Rio Rancho High School under Coach Phil Lopez (freshman/sophomore) and Coach Mike Worley (junior/senior). I played linebacker and a little bit of fullback. Coach Dave Howes and Gino Satriana were my co-defensive coordinators all four years. It was a family atmosphere—we worked hard and built a strong brotherhood. I was part of the first team in school history to win a playoff game, and we helped set the foundation for Rio Rancho to become the powerhouse it is today. I also played college football at Eastern New Mexico.

Q: Any favorite memories during your coaching career?

A: My first year as a defensive coordinator at Sandia (2023–24), we went 8–3 with a first-round bye and played strong defense all year. Another was last season at Albuquerque High, when we had our first win over Eldorado in decades. That was a big moment for our program. I have a lot of respect for Eldorado—they run a great program—so that win meant a lot.

Q: What is your philosophy or just some coaching tenets that you live by?

A: My philosophy is built on relentless effort—everything starts there. Our defense is built on
nine principles: Relentless every snap, every situation; 100% effort, 100% of the time (class, practice, scouting report, film, weight room); 11 hats to the ball; speed-to-power tackling (tracking-to-connect); stopping the run; non-stop pressure; creating turnovers; doing your job; and playing for each other.

Q: What is one of your favorite things about coaching?

A: Watching kids grow from freshmen into seniors—developing accountability, work ethic, and maturity. Football helps shape them into strong adults.

Q: Who would you pick from the ABQ Bulldogs football program for a five-person dodgeball team? You can pick any coach or player.

A: I’d go with a senior group: Nijion Bokor, Alexi Quintana, Gabriel Morales, Miguel Gonzalez,
and Julian Madera.

Q: Any team traditions or any pre-game rituals you have?

A: I have a game day caffeine routine—triple espresso when I get to the stadium and a grande cold brew black no ice about 15 minutes before kickoff. I do it every game.

Q: Besides football, what are some things you enjoy?

A: I’m a big sports fan—Knicks, Giants, Yankees, and Lobo basketball. I also enjoy spending
time with my wife, Azure, and our dog, Balotelli—going on walks and coffee dates.

Q: Was there a coach that was influential in your life?

A: A lot of coaches have impacted me: Pat Mastriano (uncle), Andrew Calzada, Phil Lopez,
Mike Worley, Gino Satriana, Dave Howes, Fernando Salinas, Kevin Barker, and Chad Adcox.
Fernando brought me into coaching, and Kevin Barker hired me at Sandia as a linebackers
coach, where Fernando was the defensive coordinator. Chad Adcox gave me my first
coordinator role and pushed me daily—I still use a lot of what he taught me. I also lean on my brother, Michael LiRosi, who coached DBs for years at Cleveland. My brother, Andre LiRosi, also chimes in and helps—he coached wide receivers at Cleveland.

Q: What can people expect from your team this season? What players should we be keeping an eye out for.

A: A tough, gritty team that plays with relentless effort and competes every snap. Coach
Desmond Anaya sets the tone—I believe he’s the hardest-working head coach in the state.
Defensively, watch Julian Madera, Alexi Quintana, Ray Allen Rackley, Nijion Bokor, and Karrar Altameemi.

Q: Finally, what has football meant in your life, and what are you hoping to pass down to the players?

A: Football has been a huge part of my life since I was born. The biggest thing is the
brotherhood—it’s family. Some of my closest friends are from football. That’s what brought me to Albuquerque High—Coach Anaya and I were college teammates—and it’s what I’m trying to pass down: the importance of team and that same brotherhood to our players.