AZTEC – Parents and players representing the Aztec High School football team showed up Wednesday afternoon at the offices of the Aztec School district to support current head coach Nic Williams while the school district held meetings behind closed doors to determine the fate of the coach and other members of his coaching staff.
More than a dozen football players, most of whom were accompanied by their parents, angrily sought answers from the board, which met privately with Williams who was put on paid administrative leave by the district earlier this week.
In what was called a “predetermination meeting” with Williams and members of the board on Wednesday, the only news to come out of the meeting is that Williams will have a chance to defend himself against running a dangerous drill during a recent practice.
That meeting has not yet been scheduled, leaving many on the team to believe Williams will not be on the sidelines on Friday night when Aztec opens its regular season at Fred Cook Memorial Stadium against Rio Grande High School.
An updated team roster on Maxpreps.com, which appears to have gone through numerous changes both before and after the Wednesday afternoon meeting, currently contains no one’s name on the active coaching roster. There had been as many as 11 names listed as either head coach or assistant coach before the roster was updated again late Wednesday evening.
Aztec High School athletic director David Sweet denied there was a change at the head coaching position and that access to changes to the Maxpreps roster could only come from himself and Williams.
“There has not been a coaching change at this time and I did not implement that,” Sweet wrote in a text message to the Tri-City Record. “Me and coach Williams should be the only two people who have access to Maxpreps to make a change like that.”
Players, many of whom have spent at least one or two seasons on the Tigers, voiced their frustration as they awaited answers from the board as to the status of their head coach.
“It’s unfair what’s happening to (Williams),” said senior quarterback Angelo Griego. “He’s the first coach that we’ve had in awhile that’s believed in us and has given us a chance. Previous coaches haven’t given me a shot and now they’re trying to take it away from us.”
Watch the interviews at the Tri-City Record’s YouTube channel, at: https://www.youtube.com/@tricityrecordnm
Williams was not informed of a coaching change at the Wednesday meeting and had no knowledge of the status of the rest of his coaching staff.
“That’s for the administration to communicate with the public,” Williams said. “All I know is that I’m on administrative leave right now.”
More than a handful of players who showed up in support of their head coach have suggested that they will not play on Friday if Williams isn’t on the sidelines.
“This guy believes in us and these coaches are building us to not only be better players but better men,” said junior wide receiver/strong safety Jace Archuleta. “I appreciate our whole coaching staff and there’s just not going to be a football program if (Williams) gets fired.”
In spite of the suggestion that players will not participate on Friday night, Williams wants his team to play and to win the first game of the season.
“I love this place and I love these kids,” Williams said. “I wanted to make sure these kids were well-coached and make sure this community is happy. I want them to stay strong and play like you’ve never played before.”
