Northern New Mexico College’s basketball coaches have both been suspended due to procedural issues, and will miss games from the conference tournaments.
College President Hector Balderas confirmed the suspensions in an email, and wrote that they were due to “process delays with NAIA filings.”
“Their rules specify that eligibility certifications must be made within five days of the start of competition each semester, and despite our athletics department being in communication with both conference and NAIA officials, that we self-reported the issue, and no ineligible players played during any competition, the certifications were filed after competition began, and the NAIA’s bright line rule requires the coaches’ suspension,” he wrote.
Men’s basketball coach Jesus Aragon, who is also the school’s athletic director, was suspended for two games. He will miss their Friday game against Voorhees University, and will also miss a semifinal game should the Eagles advance.
First-year women’s basketball coach Samantha Stukes was suspended for one game, and missed the team’s first-round game on Thursday at the Continental Athletic Conference tournament. Stephen Miera acted as coach on the sidelines of that game.
With Stukes sidelined, the No. 2-seeded Eagles were upset in their first-round game by No. 7 seed Arkansas Baptist 58-56. The loss ended the first winning season in program history, and dashed their chances of becoming the first women’s team in school history to make the national tournament.