Team Photo/provided by Jennifer Coats.

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.

This week, we have Artesia high school’s Bryson Martinez who is the defensive backs coach, passing game coordinator, and the head strength and conditioning coach for the Bulldogs. 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: Bryson Martinez – Artesia High School. I coach Defensive Backs, I am the defensive Passing Game Coordinator, and I am also the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.

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

A: I did. I started at Wide Receiver and Safety for Piedra Vista High School in Farmington, NM. I also returned punts and kickoffs, as well as held PAT’s and FG’s. I was an All-District player at both positions, All-State at Receiver, and North/South All-Star. I continued on and played Receiver, Kick Returner, and Holder at Los Angeles Pierce College where I was an All-American my sophomore year. This gave me the opportunity to continue my career at the University of New Mexico.

Q: Any favorite memories during your coaching career?

A: Beating Belen twice in my first season coaching in Los Lunas (2018/WR’s) was pretty awesome. We beat them to win district and then again to eliminate them from the playoffs. This was the last big year of the rivalry, when it was still competitive, before Belen’s enrollment started shrinking, coinciding with Los Lunas’ continuing to grow. We won a game on the road and one at home and both environments were electric. I also got lifelong bragging rights since I got to beat a couple of mentors and good friends of mine, Coach Greg Henington and Coach Nathaniel Charley, who I coached with last season in Los Lunas.

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

A: I have a few. The first is that it’s all about relationships. Kids have to know you care about them as people. I spend much of my time getting to know the kid, their stories, their families, and what matters to them. If they know you love them and care about them, you can hold them to a high standard, coach them hard, and they won’t take offense because they know you’re coaching them hard from a place of love.

Secondly, our job as coaches is to shape young men first, and football players second. We all want to win, but our job is to help them gain the tools to win at life. I want to help develop good fathers, husbands, sons, and members of society.

I also fully believe that everyone can grow and improve, and they all deserve equal effort and attention from us coaches. Anyone can coach the naturally gifted athletes, but can you take the kid that is maybe average in talent, and help them develop? To me that shows whether you’re a good coach or not.

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

A:  The relationships, hands down. I love sports and competing, but building bonds that last a lifetime with our student-athletes, seeing them grow, and watching them becoming adults, parents, spouses, etc., tops it all.

Q: Who would be in your karaoke squad if you could pick staff from your current school (any staff member)?

A: Oh man, Elvis Acosta, our DLine coach comes to mind right away. He’s hilarious and so fun to be around. I’d want him on the squad because it’s impossible not to have fun around that guy. Coach Max Rodriguez, our DC, too, because he’d probably be just as uncomfortable as I am doing karaoke. I’d also take my former DC, Coach Nathaniel Charley because he hates attention, so it would be fun to see him be in the spotlight. Finally, Coach Greg Henington because I’ve only ever heard him listen to Bone Thugs N Harmony, so I’d be interested to see if he even knows other music exists.

Q: Best place in Artesia to get food?

A: This is tough. Coming from Albuquerque, there are of course less options here, and this might be a cop out, but all of the local places here are good. There aren’t a lot, but everything that isn’t a chain is good. Some that come to mind right away are La Fonda, Alma’s, and Adobe Rose.

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

A: Team traditions are endless down here at Artesia. From the Dogpile to “Decals with Dads” to “Opening the #1” after we win state, the traditions are endless. I’m honestly still learning some of the traditions and I’ve been here for 3+ months now.

As for me, I like to meditate, pray, and put on some music. I like to visualize the game, route concepts, and playcalls. I’m not too superstitious, but I do like to stay calm and mellow before I get amped up for warm ups.

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

A: I love to read (230+ books finished since 2020), watch sports, play video games if I ever get spare time, travel to new cities, and compete (in any and everything – from pickup basketball to Monopoly).

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

A: So many, I just know I’m going to miss some, so I apologize in advance. Coaches Jared Howell, Frank Whalen, and Aaron Lucero from my time at Piedra Vista (these guys held me accountable and showed me that growth is on the other side of comfort), and Coaches Mike Thornton, Jason Sabolic, Dame Julian, and John Austin at Los Angeles Pierce College (these men further emphasized the need for attention to details – there’s no such thing as “small things” in football) from my playing days.

Coach Jeremy Maupin (my current HC), for giving me my first Coaching Opportunity in Los Lunas, and an opportunity now in Artesia. We align so much on so many things, especially the idea that you can win AND do things the right way – they aren’t mutually exclusive. I’m constantly learning from him and he continues to have a major impact on my life.

Q: What can people expect from your team this season?

A: You can expect a tough, selfless, fast, disciplined team. We’re gonna play hard and honor the game by playing the right way. We’re always going to compete for all 4 quarters, regardless of the score, opponent, or conditions.