The maestro of Española Valley’s football renaissance is moving up a couple of classifications.
After guiding the Sundevils to the Class 4A state semifinals for the first time in school history, Tylon Wilder is off to Albuquerque to coach Sandia in 6A.
Under Wilder, Española went 9-4 — equaling its most-ever wins in a season. In three seasons under Wilder, the Sundevils compiled a 23-12 record and also reached the quarterfinals in 2023.
That three-year stretch under Wilder was the most successful in the program’s history.
“Coming in here and having three winning seasons back to back to back, with the intensity of the kids, they showed that given the opportunity, the kids were successful,” he said. “I’m super proud of the kids and the coaching staff for that.”
In the six seasons before he took over, Española went 9-44 under four different coaches.
Now the search is on for his replacement.
“I think the numbers speak for themselves,” Española Athletic Director Matthew Abeyta said of Wilder’s success. “He’s the most successful coach in school history. It’s the most successful three-year stretch and the first time with three consecutive winning seasons. Winning playoffs games. It was a very successful tenure for coach Wilder. You’re not going to find another coach Wilder.”
But whoever that turns out to be, Wilder said the program is in far better shape now than when he took the job.
“I thought we did a great job there over the last three years, going from 20 kids in the program to almost 65 kids in the program,” he said. “Winning a playoff game in the second year, in the third year going to the semifinals. I think the kids did a great job. I think we proved that Española Valley can be good at football.”
Wilder said he encouraged all of his Sundevils assistant coaches to consider applying for the head coaching job.
“I would recommend any one of the assistant coaches to apply,” he said. “I think it’s a very attractive job.”
That’s something on which Abeyta is counting.
“I think people look at this as an attractive job,” he said. “And the boys are integral to that attraction. Anybody, especially from New Mexico, knows about what we did. We were on the radar statewide and the cupboard is not bare.”
Abeyta mentioned players like running back Leonard Martinez (663 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns), quarterback Michael Maestas (590 rushing yards, five TDs) and top tackler Cody Coffeen, all of whom are expected to return.
“We have a lot of boys who are coming back,” Abeyta said. “And we have a staff of willing and capable coaches. So it will be plug and play for our next coach.”
Those remaining assistant coaches are dedicated to keeping the off-season program running full tilt, he said.
“The assistant coaches that are there are fully committed to keeping things rolling until a hire is made,” Abeyta said. “They’ve already put together a workout schedule for the athletics period. The coaches are going to be available to make sure the boys continue to have that solid foundation and consistency, which this time of year, that’s paramount. Having that consistency and a system in place so the boys can show up every day knowing what to do and what’s going to be expected of them.”
As for a hiring timeline, Abeyta said that’s too early to say, as right now he’s fielding calls from interested coaches.
“Comparing it to the last time when we were in this position, we’re about a month behind,” he said. “We’d definitely like to have somebody in place as soon as possible, maybe by spring break to have things trending in that direction, but I don’t want to put a deadline on it. The sooner the better, but we’re going to take our time and make sure that we find the right person.”