Former Los Lunas Coach Greg Henington Joins Cleveland High Staff

Greg Henington, who went 43-16 and won a state title over five seasons as Los Lunas head football coach, has joined Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho as a teacher and assistant coach. The move, announced after Los Lunas Schools decided Dec. 15 to make a change in leadership, places Henington inside a program that has won five of the past six 5A state championships and operates with a collegiate-style structure.

Henington is listed at Cleveland as a special education and language arts teacher after several years as a physical education instructor at Los Lunas High School. His coaching duties with head coach Robert Garza are not yet specific; the school said he will help with the offense. Henington described the Cleveland program bluntly: “It’s run like a college. There’s a lot of opportunity to learn here.”

School officials in Valencia County moved quickly after the Dec. 15 decision by Los Lunas Schools to change football leadership. A public statement from district officials said they were “moving in a different direction regarding the leadership of the Los Lunas High School Tigers football program.” Henington called the transition difficult: “It’s been tough,” he said. “I’m going to miss those (LLHS) kids. I thought we had a great connection.”

For Cleveland, adding a coach with a 43-16 high school head-coaching record and a state championship could strengthen an already dominant program that has repeatedly contended for New Mexico 5A titles. Henington also emphasized personal growth in the new environment: “I’m excited to learn and grow a little bit more,” he said. “I’m getting better. I’m feeling better about things.”

Los Lunas Schools athletic director Bill Hays said the head coach position is still open. “The position is still posted/being advertised and interviews have not been scheduled yet. We will be interviewing for the position soon,” Hays said, signaling that the district expects to fill the vacancy in the coming weeks.

The move carries implications for both districts. Los Lunas must replace a coach who delivered consistent winning records and postseason success, which could shape the Tigers’ recruiting and program continuity. Cleveland gains coaching depth and an experienced voice for its offense while Henington brings classroom support in special education and language arts. For Valencia County residents, next steps to watch are the Los Lunas hiring timeline and how Henington’s presence factors into Cleveland’s preparation for the next 5A campaign.