Anthony Apodaca might be new to the prep head coaching ranks, but he is a familiar face to the Phoenix of the Academy for Technology and the Classics.
After spending the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach for the ATC girls basketball program, Apodaca took over as head coach two weeks ago. He replaces Ben Martinez, who spent a season in that position before taking the varsity assistant job with the Pojoaque Valley girls program. ATC went 11-15 last year.
“I’ve always wanted to step in as a head coach and a role like this,” Apodaca said. “The opportunity arose and here I am now. I’m just excited to get started and to get these girls going and see what the future holds for us.”
Apodaca’s year under Martinez was his first at the high school level. Previously, he was a club coach for the NM Shock AAU team run by current Phoenix boys coach Joe Ray Anaya. He also started a club program, the Santa Fe Storm, when his son, Jordan Apodaca, a 2023 ATC graduate, began playing in elementary school.
While the girls program lost several key players, Apodaca said the returning talent is young but promising. Before Martinez left, the pair ran the summer workouts and camps in June.
Apodaca said the Phoenix got a taste of what varsity life would be like.
“We went to Mora, we went to La Cueva,” Apodaca said. “We did a lot of work on fundamental skills and defensive drills at our gym. So, we did get some work in.”
The challenge Apodaca and ATC will face is a move-up in classification, as the school will compete in Class 3A for the next two seasons. That pits the Phoenix against the likes of St. Michael’s, Las Vegas Robertson and Santa Fe Indian School — programs that are established as some of the best in 3A.
“None of these schools are a cakewalk,” Apodaca said. “These schools are tough, they’re well coached, they got great athletes there. But at the same time, we have great athletes ourselves. Yes, we’re young. We only have two seniors this year, but I think that they will step up to the challenge.”
One challenge already answered by Apodaca is his coaching staff. He already has three hires for his high-school staff, and all have ties with him. Matt Olson was on the staff at Santa Fe High for a couple of years and with Apodaca’s club team, while Korie Polanco-Lujan also was a coach with him with the Storm.
