ESPANOLA, New Mexico. Northern New Mexico College formally named Ryan Cordova, a native of Espanola as its interim head men's basketball coach for the 2010-11 season which kicks off in mid-October. His assistant coach is Zach Cole, also a native of Espanola, and a former sports star at Espanola Valley High School.

Cordova returns to Espanola from his family's construction business in Gallup, Blue Sky Builders, Inc. He was head boys basketball coach for Gallup High School for six years and took the Bengals to the state tournament on two occasions for the first time in 25 years. He also served on the staff of the semi-pro New Mexico Slam in Albuquerque for one year.

Cordova graduated from McCurdy High School in 1993, and was recruited by Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, where he played football for three years, and then served for five years as head assistant coach for both the men's and women's basketball teams during this period. He has Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, with a minor in Spanish from Ft. Lewis.

Cole was a three-sport star for Espanola Valley High School, and named the school's athlete of the year in 1998, before attending Ft. Lewis on a basketball scholarship, where he played on the Skyhawk men's varsity team for four years, and was named an all-conference player in the RMAC. Cole also teaches health science at Capital High School in Santa Fe, and will hold down both jobs during Northern's basketball season.

Northern will host a Basketball Camp at the Eagle Gym in Espanola for kids in kindergarten through 8th grade every day from Tuesday, August 3 through Friday, August 6. The K-3rd grade camp will be held from 9:00 am to Noon, and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm for kids in 4th through 8th grades. Camp participants may register at the door. Interested parents should call Coach Cordova for details at (505) 747-2288.
                                                                               "We're excited to have two experienced, quality coaches leading our men's team this year," said Interim Athletic Director David Trujillo. "Ryan and Zack are well known in the Espanola Valley, and will bring quality student-athletes to our basketball program. They will also put a men's team on the court that is exciting, fast-moving, and entertaining. That's what Eagle fans want and we're confident we have the right guys in place to achieve that," Trujillo concluded.