AZTEC — After seven years leading the boys basketball program at neighboring Koogler Middle School, Kenny Adam is eager to bring his experience to the Aztec High School girls basketball team.
The Aztec Athletics and Activities Facebook page announced last week that Adam will take over as head coach, succeeding Bill McLaughlin, who led the program for the past four seasons. Adam officially stepped into the role Wednesday, meeting with parents and players inside Lillywhite Gymnasium.
“I was honored to get this position and I’m blessed for it,” Adam said. “I’m going to take the best of this knowledge and build from there.”
Adam said the move to the high school level feels natural after his time at Koogler. He also hopes to build on the foundation McLaughlin established.
“This is my first time coaching girls,” Adam said. “There will be some challenges, but I’ve known a lot of these ladies for the past seven years. I watched them come through middle school, and some have already graduated, so I think this transition is going to be great.”
McLaughlin took over before the 2022-23 season and finished his first year with a 6-21 record and a 1-9 mark in District 1-4A. Over the next three seasons, the Tigers improved to near-.500 records and consistently finished third or fourth in a district that includes Kirtland Central and Gallup, two of the state’s top programs.
Aztec has compiled a 50-84 record over the past five seasons. Adam said one of his goals is to return the Tigers to the state playoffs. The program’s last postseason appearance came in 2024, when Aztec earned the No. 16 seed before falling to No. 1 Kirtland Central in the opening round. The Tigers’ only state championship came in 2007.
Before focusing on wins and losses, Adam wants to establish a clear team identity.
“We’re going to be a team on and off the court, first and foremost,” he said. “We’re going to be a disciplined defensive team, and we want to make that our foundation.”
Plans underway include summer workouts and tournament competition as Adam begins evaluating a roster that must replace three graduating seniors, including Jazzlyn Gomez, the Tigers’ starting point guard and leading scorer the past two seasons.
“It all builds off of what you want to come in here and do as a team,” he said. “There are no starters right now. Everybody’s got to work for a job, so the door is open from freshmen on up.”