AZTEC – Colton Weaver is happy to know that the old adage “you can go home again” applies to him.
After winning a state football championship as a player at Aztec High School a little more than a decade ago, the 30-year-old has been tabbed as the Tigers’ new head coach.
The Aztec High School athletic department announced the hiring on its social media page, and Weaver confirmed the news in an interview with the Tri-City Record over the Memorial Day weekend.
“I’m an Aztec guy through and through,” Weaver said. “Graduated there, wife graduated from there, I’m a state champion from there. I love Aztec, and that’s where I want to be. And we’re going to get to work, but we’re going to love these kids up and make them love football again.”
Weaver returns to the Tigers’ sidelines following a tumultuous stretch for the program. The team has won only once in 18 games over the last two years and has cycled through six head coaches since 2020.
Aztec last won the Class 4A state title during an undefeated 2011 season. Weaver, then a sophomore lineman playing under head coach Brad Hirsch, also played baseball at Aztec High before graduating in 2014.
Since then, the balance of power in Class 4A has shifted dramatically. Neighboring Bloomfield High School, located just 7 miles away, has won three of the last four Class 4A state championships, while Aztec has occasionally struggled just to field a team.
Recent leadership changes at Aztec High have been swift. Thomas Riddle took over as the new athletic director, and the Aztec Municipal School District announced last December that Lauren Laws would step in as full-time superintendent.
“Mrs. Laws has really done a good turnaround and really cleaned up some things,” Weaver said. “And I’m very fortunate that I get to go work for Mr. Riddle and Mrs. Laws. I think that’s really been a missing part of what’s been going on there, is the kids aren’t coming out because they’re not loved the way they should be.”
Weaver spent the past two seasons working at Bloomfield under head coach Mike Kovacs.
“(Kovacs) is the standard of success, and I’ve learned way more than I could ever imagine from him,” Weaver said. “I’m very grateful for everything that he has done for me.”
Weaver faces a tight window to prepare his team for the upcoming season, with less than three months until kickoff.
“I got to meet with the kids and let them know I’m happy to be here and looking forward to working with them,” Weaver said. “I was in their shoes at one time too, and that’s the first step, is getting in front of them. All the other stuff will fall in line.”
Aztec moves to Class 3A this season. Following the conclusion of last season, the New Mexico Activities Association reclassified several member schools based on average enrollment figures. The Tigers, along with Kirtland Central, will join a highly competitive district that features three-time defending state champion St. Michael’s.
“(St. Michael’s head coach) Joey Fernandez rolls 3A,” Weaver said. “He’s so good at what he does. So there’s still some really tough teams here.”
Adding even more intrigue to Weaver’s debut will be the season opener on Friday, Aug. 21, against Bayfield High School and its new head coach, Rocky Long.
Long, the winningest coach in Mountain West Conference history with 146 victories, coached the University of New Mexico from 1998 through 2008, leading the Lobos to five bowl appearances. He later spent 10 years at San Diego State, where he won three conference titles. Long most recently served as the defensive coordinator at Durango High School.
“How many people get to say their first game ever as a head coach is against Rocky Long?” Weaver said. “I mean, he’s a total legend in my book. It’s pretty remarkable.”