Melrose coach to be inducted into Hall of Honor
Jun. 10—The New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) will soon honor three coaches from across the state by inducting them into the Hall of Honor. One of those coaches is an eastern New Mexico local, and it's safe to say he's well known to many.
Dickie Roybal of Melrose has been coaching for nearly 30 years. He recently learned of the accomplishment, and he credits all his success to the many athletes he has coached along the way.
"It's hard to take credit for anything that I did, because it was the kids, and it always will be. I'll never take that away from them," Roybal said.
While he is more well known across the state for his football coaching career, believe it or not, football wasn't his first sport of choice.
Roybal started his coaching career as the head girls' basketball coach at House. He then made the transition to Melrose; except he would be the assistant boys' basketball coach. He said he was flattered to take this job, but his head coach, Jimmy Joe Robinson, had one catch to go along with it. He was told he'd have to also coach football.
"I was dead set against it," Roybal said. "I was not going to coach football."
Well, that wasn't exactly the case after all.
His successful career is supported by nine state championships in 6-man and 8-man football and four runners-up trophies. His coaching record stands at 186 wins and 56 losses. A man of many talents, Roybal has coached football, basketball, and track throughout his entire career.
Coaching is only one of many responsibilities Roybal holds within Melrose Schools. He's also the high school principal, athletic director, a bus driver, and has taught in the classroom as well. Superintendent Brian Stacy said that when the time comes, filling his shoes will be a very difficult task.
"When things needed to be done, he'd step in and do them," Stacy said. "He volunteered and said, 'Yeah, I'll take that over. I'll do that.' And that's that unselfishness of, what does the school district need? And can I help fulfill that need?"
Roybal is married to his wife, Cindy, and together they have five children who have all been involved in athletics and other activities at Melrose. After nearly 30 years, Roybal is now getting to coach his two youngest children, twin boys entering their junior year.
"At times, I don't know whether they like it or not," Roybal said. Every year, he asks them if they want him to coach. "So far, they've said yes." With only two years left of coaching his boys, Roybal confirmed his time at Melrose Schools is coming to an end.
"When they graduate, that's when I'm going to finally retire from education," he said. "I've just been blessed with this career."
To be chosen as a NMHSCA Hall of Honor Inductee, the coach must have reached the pinnacle of coaching in New Mexico and be a member of the NMHSCA for a minimum of 20 years. The induction is based on peers and nominations amongst many coaches from across the state. "When you do get in, it's quite the honor," Roybal said.
The other two coaches that will join Roybal next month in Albuquerque to be inducted are Roy Johnson from Piedra Vista and Jerry Villareal from Mesa Vista. The awards program will be held on Saturday, July 22, at 5:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque.
"It is extremely well deserved," Stacy said. "He's in a group that is in that Hall, that are just phenomenal people, and to add him to that I think is just fantastic."
