Pablo Gabaldon named New Mexico’s top assistant coach

LOS LUNAS — It might be the last time Pablo Gabaldon is up for such an honor.

A few months after being named Los Lunas head boys basketball coach, the New Mexico High School Coaches Association selected Gabaldon as Assistant Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.

“Getting selected was pretty awesome going into my first year as a head coach,” Gabaldon said. “I was excited for that.”

Another reason to be excited is because of how the Tigers played this summer, as the program adjusts to life with a new head coach, the graduation of several key players and the departure of star Jalin Holland, who will play his senior season in Arizona.

“In our last camp (at Sandia) we were able to string six wins together, which was the most we had at any camp,” Gabaldon said. “I was really happy for the kids because they put in a lot of time,” adding that, “It’s not about winning. We talk about trusting the process. That’s our big thing.”

Gabaldon, a Belen High School graduate, had been an assistant since 2017 under Travis Julian, who nominated Gabaldon for the award. When Julian retired this spring, Gabaldon was hired as LLHS head coach.