Cindy “Pecos” Roybal
Born: September 20, 1952
High School: Pecos High School 1971
College: College of Santa Fe (Cum Laude) Bachelor of Science in Physical Education K-12 (1975) New Mexico Highlands University – Master’s in Physical Education (1981)
Cindy has been known as a pioneer and advocate for women’s sports not only in her home state of New Mexico, but all over the United States. Graduating one year before Title IX was established in 1972, she has worked hard to open opportunities for young women in high school and college sports. Not being satisfied with women’s opportunities in sports, she graduated from the College of Santa Fe in three years so she could get a head start on her coaching career and open opportunities for young girls that she never had. Over 40 years she has coach and been an administration in the high school and college ranks. Thirty-nine years in Education in New Mexico Coaching experience in softball, basketball, track and cross country, volleyball. The sport she coached the most was basketball which she has an overall high school basketball record of 377-105.
High School:
• Cindy was on the cutting edge of efforts to pass Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, giving women equal rights to participate in sports and other activities as early as her high school days. Her Efforts including a sit-down strike at Pecos High School to form a girls’ team or allow her to play on the boys’ teams. Cindy was very involved in school activities. However, what she really wanted was to play organized sports even on the boys’ teams.
• Salutatorian
• Editor of the school’s newspaper
• Editor of our Yearbook
• Played the bass drum for the band
College
• Member of the Women’s Recreation Association Basketball, Volleyball, and Tennis teams at College of Santa Fe. They played area colleges such as the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State, New Mexico Highlands University and several out of state colleges. There were no NCAA certified events for woman during those years
• Ranked number two in the tennis team.
Professional:
• Professional Basketball Player
o Played for the All-American Red Heads, a professional women’s basketball team, she and her teammates recorded 214 wins and 14 losses while only playing against men’s teams.
• High School Teacher/ Coach
o Catherine’s High School 1975-1977
• Physical Education Department Head
• Physical Education Teacher 7-12
• Science Teacher
• Cheerleader Sponsor
• Intramural Director
• Head Basketball Coach
• 4th place when 12-16 teams were in the district
• Overall Basketball Record 25-11
• Coached A/B Girls
• Coached Varsity Boys (2 games)
• Head Volleyball Coach
• District Runner-Up
• Head Softball Coach
• Played at State Tournament when there were no classifications
• Head Track Coach
• Institute of American Indian Arts 1978
Physical Education Teacher Post Grad
Head Basketball/Volleyball Coach
Overall Basketball Record 26-12
District Runner-up in both sports
• Santa Fe Indian School 1979-1985
• Physical Education Teacher (1978-1985)
• Physical Education Department Head (1981-1985)
Conducts department meetings and establishes specific work groups and subcommittees as needed, communicates department needs to the administration, initiates program reviews when necessary, proposes departmental curriculum changes, encourages and assists professional development and scholarly activities of all faculty, responds and seeks to address faculty concerns.
• Interim Athletic Director (1983-1984)
Organize and supervise the entire athletic program, supervise, coordinate, and schedule athletic facilities and equipment. Administrate and supervise at all athletic events and make necessary arrangements for all high school interscholastic athletic activities. Supervise, advised and counseled all coaches in their duties and responsibilities. Administrate all League and State athletic rules and regulations.
• Head Basketball Coach (1978-1985)
Overall records 106 victories-19 losses
Four trips to State Tourney-Two-3rd places and One-4th place
1981-1985 Five straight District 8AA titles
Five Coach of the Year Awards
Five straight Santa Fe Indian School Championships
• Head Softball Coach (1982-1985)
Overall record 30-12
Second place at State Tournament
1983-1985 Third place at State Tournament
• Head Volleyball Coach (1982-1985)
Overall record 26-7
Fourth place finish at State Tournament
District 8AA Champions
• Pojoaque Valley High School 2002-2005
• Physical Education Teacher grades 5-12
• Head Girls’ Basketball Coach Overall record 36-13
• 2003 Regional AAA Runner-up
• 2004 District 2 AAA Runner Ups (2004)
• 2003-2004-2005 Ben Lujan Tourney Champs
• 2003 District Regular Season and Tournament Champs
• 2003 Coach of the Year
• 1985 & 2004 North All Star Head Basketball Coach
• Santa Fe Indian School 2009-2013
• Health/PE Teacher – Compile, administer, and grade examinations as well as evaluate and grade students’ class work, assignments, and papers. Prepare course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments, handouts and lesson plans. Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research. Participate in campus and community events.
• Head Girls’ Basketball Coach 220-54
• 2013 District Runner-Up
• 2013 Over-All Record 25-6
• 2013 SFIS Tournament Champion
• 2013 Ben Lujan Tournament Champion
• 2013 NAGWS Pathfinder Award Winner
• 2012 STATE Runner Up (.01)
• 2012 5AAA Tournament Champions
• 2012 Over All Record 25-7
• 2012 Aztec Tournament Champions
• 2012 Alice King Tournament Champions
• Beat Kirtland Central for first time in school history
• 2011 AAA State Champions
• 2011 AAA Coach of the Year
• 2011 District AAA Regular Season Champions
• 2011 5AAA Tournament Champions
• 2011 Total Record 25-6
• 2010 AAA State Champions
• 2010 NMHSCA Coach of the Year
• 2010 Navajo Times Coach of the Year
• 2010 District AAA Coach of the Year
• 2010 District AAA Regular Season Champs
• 2010 Overall record 24-6
• March 22, 2010 titled “Lady Brave Day” by Mayor Coss
• 2009 State Tourney appearance Final 8
• 2008-2009 Overall record 16-11
• 5 Ben Lujan Tournament Titles
• 2013 Coached New Mexico vs Arizona All Stars (2 Wins
o Espanola Valley High School 2014-2017
• Head Girls Basketball Coach Overall Record 70-16
o 2015,2016,2017 State Semi Finalist Best in Schools History
o 2015,2016,2017 Regular 5A District Champions
2015,2016,2017 5A District Tournament Champions
2016,2017 Capital Tourney Champions
2016,2017 St. Mikes Tournament Champions
2015 &2017 District 5A Coach of the Year
o New Mexico Highlands 1985-2002
College Professor/Coach
College Professor for seventeen years at New Mexico Highlands University
1992 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
• 1992 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Tournament
• 1992 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conferences Tourney Champs
• 1992 NAIA District VII Champions
• 1992 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
• 1992 District VII Coach of the Year
• 1993 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conferences Runner-ups
• 1994 National Collegiate Athletic Association II Tournament
• 1994 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conferences Tourney Champs
• 2000 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conferences West Champions
• Only team to go over .500 for twelve seasons in a row.
• Best Coaching record at New Mexico Highlands University
• One of the few Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coaches with over 250 wins
• All the team and individual records for girls’ basketball occurred during her coaching days.
• Athletic Director/Athletic Administrator
o 1996 – 2001 Senior Women’s Athletic Administrator
• 2000-2002 Only Hispanic Athletic Director in the Nation
• Believed to be the only Hispanic Athletic Director for both men’s and women’s athletics ever in the country.
• Responsible for 1.8 Million Dollar Budget
Honors:
• 1983 Secretary of State Certificate of Appreciation (1983)
• 1985-1992-1994 Memorial House of Representatives
• 1985 Governor Recognition Award
• 1992 Cindy Roybal Day Pecos, New Mexico
• 1992 Key to the City of Pecos, New Mexico
• 1992 & 1994 Cindy Roybal Day Las Vegas, New Mexico
• 2007 Inducted in the New Mexico Highlands University Hall of Honor
• 2010 New Mexico High School Coaches Association’s Ralph Bowyer Award that she received with the help of the Peshlakai Family who lost their two daughters in a drunk driving accident.
• 2012 Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the All-American Red Heads Women’s Basketball Team. On September 7, 2012, sixty-five surviving Red Heads appeared at a ceremony at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to represent the team’s induction.
• 2012National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) Pathfinder Award provide national recognition to women who have demonstrated continuous dedication to sport leadership in their states.
• 2007 Inducted in the New Mexico Highlands University Hall of Honor
• 2013 Inducted in the New Mexico Native All-Stars Hall of Fame
• 2014 Awarded the prestigious New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame’s Award of Distinction for her years of contributions to New Mexico athletics
• 2016 National Coach of the Year Finalist
Community Involvement:
• 1970 -1984 Special Olympics
o Special Olympics Certificate of Appreciation
• Hosted numerous camps and clinics in different sports
• Helped raise money for local area people battling cancer or to help family and friend’s raise money for funeral expenses of a loved one.
Family
• Daughter of the late Pete and Paulina Roybal.
• Two brothers, Joe and Ron
• Five sisters, Isabel, Lena, Thelma, Trudy, and Maxine
• Cindy is very proud of her family. Her mother dedicated over 40 years to the teaching profession in Pecos’ school district. Her father was a self-employed contractor ,where I learned some skill to help me built my own Cabins in the Pecos. My brother, Joe was a successful teacher and coach. My other brother, Ron, worked in the State Correction system and has since retired. My oldest sister, Isabel retired from St. Vincent’s Hospital as the telephone operator. Sister Lena worked for the Secretary of State, then at St. Catherine’s High School. My sister Trudy retired working as an Airline Stewardess, Sister Thelma worked as a Social Worker, Sister Maxine worked several secretarial positions including State Police and Banks. All her siblings were successful and contributed tremendously to our Great State.