Tucumcari's Ferguson elected to NMAA Hall of Fame

The New Mexico Activities Association announced Thursday that current Tucumcari athletic director and longtime THS multisport coach Wayne Ferguson would be inducted into the organization's Hall of Fame.

Ferguson will be formally inducted during the second annual New Mexico High School Sports Award Show and Dinner on July 25 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Ferguson, whose career in education spans over 30 years, has coached boys and girls basketball, wrestling, football and, currently, track and field. He won state titles in track in 2008 and 2017.

He is set to begin his final season as THS track and field coach with the Rattler Relays meet at Rattler Stadium on Saturday.

He is a Tucumcari native who played several sports and attended Eastern New Mexico University. He also is the dean of students at THS.

After his introduction during the state basketball tournament, Ferguson became choked up at times during his speech, sometimes pausing to regain his composure.

"This is kind of a humbling experience," he said. "I never expected to be standing up here receiving an award like this. It's an honor."

He thanked Tucumcari High School principal Nicole Bright-Lesly, recently retired superintendent Aaron McKinney and interim superintendent Dave Johnson, "who have let me do my job."

Ferguson credited having good mentors, and he lauded longtime boys basketball coach John Span, who sat out the recently completed season due to cancer treatment, among those as good supporters.

He said the "smartest decision he ever made" was marrying "a pretty little blonde from El Paso, Texas" who became his wife, Leslie.

"As a coach and athletic director, you sacrifice a lot," he said. "And my family sacrificed a lot. Without her, I wouldn't be where I am here today. So I just want to thank her."

Ferguson said he also had the privilege of coaching two children, Meagan and Tyler, in sports at Tucumcari. He also noted his niece, Dana Benavidez, is head volleyball coach and his assistant track coach at THS. Many of those family members attended the news conference.

"I'm not going to stand up here and just spout off about myself because that's not that's not what it's about," Ferguson said. "It's always been about representing Tucumcari Public Schools the best that I can and and trying to be a mentor to the kids that I've had the pleasure of coaching and working with."

The NMAA Hall of Fame, established in 1976, recognizes those "who have made significant contributions to interscholastic athletics and activities in New Mexico." Inductees are must have 25 years of service, including 20 in New Mexico. Nominations then are screened by the NMAA Hall of Fame Selection Committee that comprises of current in former leaders in interscholastic athletics and activites.

Ferguson also was named the NHFS New Mexico Boys Track coach of the Year in 2021 and inducted into the New Mexico Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018.