In a rare mid-season move, Española School District officials removed boys head basketball coach Joey Trujillo last week, following an incident at a game during the school’s Cameron Martinez Memorial Invitational Tournament.
Head football coach Caleb Holbrook, after one season in the position, was not retained following “several instances of insubordination,” Carl Marano, Española Publics Schools superintendent, said.
Adding to the coaching carnage, volleyball coach Nicole Ortiz resigned this week.
Trujillo was let go “due to his actions at the basketball game” Dec. 5 against Mesa Vista, a game the Sundevils lost 55-41, according to an email from Marano to members of the Española Public School Board of Education.
Trujillo was suspended for the Sundevils’ final game in the tournament, Dec. 6 against Hobbs, which the team lost 75-42, then fired Thursday.
Española, after going 24-7 and reaching the state semifinals last season before losing 72-51 to Artesia, has struggled this season, getting off to a 1-6 start and losing six consecutive games.
A veteran coach, Trujillo was hired before the 2022-23 season. Over his three–plus seasons at the helm, the Sundevils compiled a 43-50 record. They also reached the state tournament as the No. 14 seed in 2024 despite a 12-17 record, losing to Hope Christian in the opening round.
Española next plays in the Alamogordo Shootout against the host team Dec. 19. A decision as to who will coach the Sundevils for the rest for the season is still being determined, Marano said.
A rookie head coach, Holbrook completed his first season with Española with a 5-5 record, but the Sundevils were left out of the playoffs after consecutive postseason appearances. He had previously been an assistant at Los Alamos High School.
Marano did not provide specific examples of Holbrook’s insubordination, but said the school wanted to move in a new direction.
A search for a new head coach will begin Monday, the superintendent said, and will focus on somebody with experience who can also step into a role within the school system.
Ortiz resigned this week and Marano had no specific details about why she left.
The Lady Sundevils went 9-13 this season, the most wins since the 2018 season, when the program last reached the state tournament. Ortiz was hired prior to the abbreviated 2020-21 COVID season and finished with an overall record of 35-88.
This is a developing story. Check back next week or pick up the 12/18/25 edition for updates.