The Fulgenzi name has been associated with Robertson High School in Las Vegas for decades — generations even.
But now longtime Cardinals Athletic Director Juan Carlos Fulgenzi, whose contract was not renewed at Robertson this summer, will come to the Española Valley as the new athletic director. He replaces Matthew Abeyta, who was reassigned to other duties in the spring.
“Juan Carlos is well respected around the New Mexico Activities Association,” new Española Public Schools Superintendent Carl Marano said. “We did a lot of homework on it. We talked with other athletic directors and he’s well respected.”
Fulgenzi comes with a long track record of achievement, Marano said.
“He did a lot of good work in Las Vegas at Robertson with their success in building a winning program and a winning culture,” he said. “He knows all the ins and outs of athletics and meeting our guidelines. He knows how important athletics is at Española and building support not just for athletics, but academics and all extra-curriculum activities.”
Fulgenzi had a long and distinguished career at Robertson, beginning when he was a high school athlete, winning three Class A-3A state individual singles championships from 1996-98 and also winning a doubles championship in 1994.
As a coach, he won three state championships between the boys and girls.
And as an athletic director since 2011, the Cardinals won 22 state championships across all sports, had 24 state runner-ups and 71 district champions.
So it’s safe to say that Cardinals red runs deep in his veins.
“It’s going to be a change,” he said. “I grew up there and that’s pretty much all I’ve known is Vegas for 45 years. I worked in Las Vegas City Schools; for 23 years I taught or (had) been an administrator there.”
But the school system underwent some sweeping changes recently, including requiring all coaches to reapply for their positions.
“New board, new superintendent and I guess they wanted to go in a different direction,” Fulgenzi said. “I guess that’s how it goes. I was given a letter of non-renewal along with a couple of other administrators.”
But now that he’s in Sundevils’ territory, he’s looking to make the most of it.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to land in Española,” he said. “We’re thankful to Superintendent Marano. He seems to be a real big supporter of athletics and academics. We’re looking forward to new challenges, new opportunities and hopefully we will thrive there.”
Fulgenzi will come as a package deal as his wife, Samantha Fulgenzi, who will be a teacher in Española and has been an assistant tennis coach at Robertson. And daughters, Gabriela Fulgenzi, a rising senior, and Sofia Fulgenzi, who will be a freshman, are strong tennis players. They led the Cardinals to a Class A-4A state runner-up trophy, with Gabriela Fulgenzi also taking second with her partner in the state doubles tournament.
Juan Carlos Fulgenzi said he has no immediate plans for major changes, but is simply looking to make a smooth transition to Española.
“I hope to bring that spark,” he said. “Española is a proud community of their athletics. They’ve been up there, basketball especially, has had some great runs. I hope to bring some of the attention to detail and ideas of that sportsmanship and compete with class attitude.”
Continuing and building the athletic department’s winning atmosphere, however, is just part of the goal, he said.
“Just kind of education-based athletics,” Juan Carlos Fulgenzi said. “We’re trying to build the whole individual, not just the athlete. We’re trying to teach life lessons that are life-long, not just being a good athlete, but being a good human being.”
Juan Carlos Fulgenzi has thus far been meeting with coaches, and also is looking forward to meeting with assistant coaches and eventually with athletes and parents.
“I’d like to do that before the first day of school,” he said. “Do it before the new school year and set expectations and just getting everybody on the same page. They’re competitive and take a lot of pride in what they do so there are a lot of similarities between the two communities Española and Las Vegas.”