Here are some top Black coaches and athletes in El Paso
El Paso will always have a place in Black history because of the 1966 UTEP national championship men's basketball team, the first squad in NCAA history to win a title with an all-Black starting lineup.
From a sports perspective, that continues into the present with Aaron Jones, the star tailback for the Green Bay Packers, who has an annual charity softball game in El Paso.
That continues with several El Paso high school coaches and high-profile UTEP athletes.
Here are some notable Black American coaches and athletes in El Paso.
High school coaches
Rodney Lewis, Chapin boys basketball.
The reigning El Paso Times coach of the year has turned Chapin into a dominant team in El Paso. The Huskies currently have a No. 4 ranking in Texas in Class 5A.
Teisha King Americas girls basketball
King came back to her alma mater as head coach in 2020.
Will Churchill, Del Valle boys basketball
Now in his 16th year as Del Valle's coach, the Conquistadors are usually a contender.
Omar Thomas, Socorro boys basketball
The former UTEP great on the 2003-04 NCAA tournament team, who had his Miner jersey retired, is in his first year as Socorro's head coach after serving as an assistant at Pebble Hills.
Klay Gardiner, Pebble Hills football and assistant track coach
The former captain of the US Army Spartans has helped the Spartans become an area power in football and track.
UTEP coaches
Earl Boykins, men's basketball assistant coach
Best known as the second-shorted player in modern NBA history over his 12-year career (he's 5-foot-5), he was hired as part of UTEP coach Joe Golding's first staff at UTEP.
Jareica Hughes, women's basketball assistant coach
An all-time Miner great now in the school's Hall of Fame, she is in her first year at UTEP as an assistant with her old college coach, Keitha Adams.
Rohsaan Griffin, assistant track coach
A former UTEP and USA national champion and record holder in the 200 meters, he returned to his alma mater in 2022 to coach sprints.
UTEP athletes
Tyrice Knight, football linebacker
Knight led the nation in solo tackles this past season, as he chose to finish his career at UTEP despite opportunities to leave for a power-5 school and more NIL money. He is a projected pick in this year's NFL draft.
Erin Wilson, women's basketball forward
UTEP's second-leading scorer and rebounder is having a huge senior season after coming here three years ago when she was rehabbing an Achilles injury.
Tae Hardy, men's basketball
After transferring to UTEP from Southern Miss, he leads UTEP in scoring and will likely be an all-Conference USA pick.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Here are some top Black coaches and athletes in El Paso
