Ex-ENMU player named Clovis football coach

A New Mexico native and former Eastern New Mexico University player and coach has been hired as Clovis High School’s new head football coach.

Andrew McCraw, 35, a native of Lovington, accepted the position effective July 1, according to a news release from Clovis schools.

McCraw most recently was head coach at Belen High School last year where he led the team to a 7-4 record and a brief playoff run.

McCraw was offensive line coach and academic coordinator at ENMU from 2017 to 2021. He was also a graduate assistant at ENMU and was head coach of Socorro High School in 2016.

He is a 2005 graduate of Lovington High, according to the news release. After high school he played football at New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico Military Institute and ENMU.

McCraw succeeds Cal Fullerton who resigned unexpectedly last month after five years as the Wildcats head coach.

“They’ve done a lot of special things down there, and to be able to take charge of a program like that is super exciting,” McCraw told the Albuquerque Journal.

“Clovis is one of those schools you always knew about. I figured I’d throw my hat in the ring.”

The Wildcats are coming off a 3-7 season. McCraw will have to quickly get up to speed on their personnel.

“You have to get to know your kids,” he said. “Gotta figure out what they respond to, what they don’t respond to. It takes time to develop those relationships and those trusts.”

Clovis Municipal Schools Athletic Director Lonnie Baca said last week a committee of CMS administrators would interview nine candidates for the job. School officials did not release the names of the candidates. McCraw's annual stipend as the head football coach will be $13,975, Superintendent Renee Russ said.

McCraw will become Clovis High’s third head football coach in 45 years. Prior to Fullerton, Eric Roanhaus led the Wildcats for 39 seasons.

Clovis High football teams have won 19 state championships, but the most recent was in 2001.

Newspaper records show Clovis High’s all-time varsity record in football is 687-346-33.

The Albuquerque Journal contributed to this report.