WITH LENNY ROYBAL
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SFR: Tell me, coach, whatcha got to work with at Santa Fe High? What kind of basketball team are you inheriting?
LR:
You know, I didn't really get to see them play last year. I understand that they have some pretty good talent. As far as returning starters I really don't know because I haven't really discussed who's coming back or who played before because it's a whole new situation. And everybody's starting from scratch.
I know the athletic department there has been on the down side for quite awhile. Do you think that the basketball program can lead the way in building it back up?
That's hard to say because I understand there's not as much dedication as there used to be in the past, whatever that means. I think they've just run into some rough years. I really feel that I'm in a good spot to turn things around. It's gonna take hard work. I think that Santa Fe definitely has the athletes to compete. It's been done before and it can be done again.
I've heard there's not a lot of height on the team and that you're a big proponent of a slowed-down, half-court kind of offense. Is that what you're planning on to combat lack of height?
I'm a proponent of giving our kids an opportunity to win ball games. If I'm going into the boxing ring with Johnny Tapia or George Foreman, I've got to run and hide. I can't be out there going toe-to-toe, exchanging punches, because I'll throw about 50 and he'll throw one. So basically I'm a proponent of finding out how to get it done and being fundamentally sound, being in good condition, having good team togetherness, playing as a team, playing smart.
Were you ever officially banned from the gym at Santa Fe High?
That was just a statement made by the principal. I don't know why he made it.
What's it going to feel like, to step into that gym, a gym that was actually named after your late brother Toby, after all these years?
I think that's one of the main reasons that I accepted this position. We won the state championship in '78 and they've had some good years after that but not consistently, and the fact that the gym is named after my brother and I did graduate from Santa Fe High. It's just a challenge I just could not pass up. It's something that has to be done. It's something that I'm drawn to.
Full circle.
I'm living proof that what goes around does come around.
Has Española Valley reached a decision about you doing the athletic director's job over there and coaching in Santa Fe?
No. They keep trying to find out how I'm going to accomplish both. I told them I have a contract to fulfill and I plan on fulfilling it. I plan on having a lot of successful programs at Española Valley. I'm trying to upgrade the facilities and I also plan on having the Santa Fe basketball program be very competitive in the state.
You've got quite a reputation and history in northern New Mexico. Is that an act to intimidate other teams?
[Laughs] No, no. That's a reputation. It's what other people think you are versus your character of who you are.
What's the difference between your reputation and your character?
Well, I have a reputation of being controversial and I definitely haven't done anything controversial. I stand up for what I believe is right. If I feel a ref made a bad call I let him know. And sometimes I let him know in the press. That's something that I need to improve on. One of my ADs a long time ago told me to think before I speak. Sometimes I don't listen to that advice.
Do you think that might not be part of a coach's nature, that it's not really your job to think before you speak?
Well, I think I have to promote sportsmanship and I have to be a leader. And if I whine about a referee's bad call then I'm being a whiner and that's something I try to get my athletes not to be. So the things I've done in the past have probably been a little too emotional at times. I've overstepped my boundaries a couple of times and I've paid for those oversteps. I've also been accused of doing things I didn't do. I got sanctioned by the NMAA [New Mexico Activities Association] one time, but I didn't have a jury of my peers. I was a coach going before a bunch of administrators, but I should have been a coach going in front of a bunch of coaches. I think that the punishment was predetermined before I even went in to meet with them.
So, switching gears, I know you're into music, what instruments do you play?
I play the guitar. Not very well! I haven't played in Santa Fe for quite awhile. But I do play and write songs and I had one that I thought should have been a definite hit in New Mexico.
What was it called?
"Red or Green."
