December 17, 2007

Roanhaus Hired as New Head Football Coach

by Gavino Archuleta, N.M. Highlands Sports Information Director

New Mexico Highlands University has named former Robertson High School Football Coach, Chad Roanhaus, as the next Head Coach of the NMHU Football Program. Roanhaus is no stranger to NMHU, he played QB for the Cowboys from 1994-1998. Roanhaus earned Second-Team All-RMAC Honors in his RS-Freshman Season. As a QB, Roanhaus led the Cowboys to some pretty impressive victories over DII powerhouses like Tarleton State and Abilene Christian. This will also be the second time Roanhaus coaches at NMHU. He served as the Assistant Offensive Coordinator while finishing his undergraduate degree in 1999 under former Head Coach Ed Rifalato, who currently coaches at Fort Lewis College. The Cowboys won the RMAC title that season with Roanhaus calling the plays. Roanhaus graduated with a BA in Finance that winter.

Coach Roanhaus has been coaching ever since he stopped playing. After being the Offensive Coordinator at NMHU, he left to his hometown of Clovis, NM where he coached for his legendary father Eric Roanhaus. Chad served as the QB Coach and JV Head Coach for CHS from the 2000-2002 seasons. During his tenure at CHS the Wildcats won one 5A State Championship in 2001 and finished with an unblemished record of 14-0. After leaving Clovis, Roanhaus came back to Las Vegas to take on the Head Job at Robertson HS. While at RHS, Roanhaus won two 3A State Championships in 2005 and 2006 and finished as the 3A Runner-Up in 2007. Director of Athletics, Ed Manzanares, is very pleased with his hire and looks forward to Coach Roanhaus bringing back the proud tradition of winning to NMHU.