Ribaudo Named Head Football Coach
at Eastern New Mexico University
Defensive Coordinator at ENMU the past Eight Years

PORTALES, N.M . — Eastern New Mexico University has promoted Mark Ribaudo, defensive coordinator for the Greyhounds the past eight seasons, to the position of head football coach, Dr. Steven G. Gamble, ENMU president, announced today. Ribaudo will begin recruiting duties immediately and will assume all other responsibilities when current Head Coach Harold "Bud" Elliott officially retires.

"We are proud to promote Mark Ribaudo to his new position as head coach of the Greyhound football team," Gamble said. "He has demonstrated over the past eight years a commitment to the football program and to balancing athletic success and academic achievement. It is no surprise to those of us at ENMU that many of Eastern’s top student-athletes are also part of Coach Ribaudo’s defense. We know that he will give every effort to continue to build a competitive team, while stressing the importance of earning a degree and of representing ENMU in a positive manner. We are confident in his abilities to keep ENMU at or near the top of the LSC South."

Ribaudo joined the Eastern New Mexico University coaching staff in 1997 as the linebacker coach. He was named defensive coordinator in 1998 and has served in that capacity for the past seven seasons. He also has continued to coach Eastern’s linebackers. He was involved in Eastern’s LSC South co-championships in 1999 and 2000, and helped the Greyhounds go 8-3 in 1998, 1999 and 2002. ENMU was 6-5 this season, including a 4-2 record and a third place finish in the LSC South.

"Coach Ribaudo has done an excellent job of building a successful defense year in and year out at ENMU," Athletic Director Mike Maguire said. "His defensive units have always been very difficult to run against, and they always seem to provide the Greyhounds with big plays when the game is on the line. I’m glad we had such a strong candidate within our own athletic department and that Coach Ribaudo has accepted our offer to become the head football coach."

In 1998, ENMU ranked ninth in NCAA Division II in total defense. The Greyhounds allowed just 254.8 total yards per game.

Eastern allowed only 288.2 yards per game in 2003 to rank 19th in NCAA Division II. ENMU led the LSC statistical rankings in 2003 by holding teams to 13.5 first downs per game and just 27.2% success on third down conversions. The Greyhounds allowed only 110.0 rushing yards per game in 2003 and gave up only 128.6 rushing yards per game in 2002.

Ribaudo previously coached five years at West Texas A&M, where he started as special teams coach and built a nationally-ranked kickoff return unit. He was the defensive coordinator at WTAMU in 1995 and 1996. He was a graduate assistant coach at Midwestern State University from 1990 to 1991. He was at MSU when the Indians won the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association title and secured a No. 10 ranking in the NAIA National Poll in 1991.

He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Sabino High School in Arizona. He was assistant coach for three years, and helped Sabino reach the playoffs in 1986. He was an assistant coach at powerful Amphitheater High School in Arizona in 1988 and 1989.

In college, Ribaudo played cornerback and running back at Hastings College in Nebraska. He received a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Arizona in 1988. He earned a master’s degree in Physical Education from Midwestern State in 1992.

"I am extremely pleased and very excited to accept the position of head football coach at Eastern New Mexico University," Ribaudo said. "I will do my best to keep the great tradition of Greyhound Football moving in a positive direction.

"I have been proud and honored to be a part of this staff, in several different capacities, for eight years, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be the head football coach," Ribaudo continued. "I sincerely believe we have a great staff, terrific players and a wonderful university. I am excited about the future of Greyhound Football."

Ribaudo and his wife, Lisa, live in Portales. They are the parents of John Ross, age 6, and Mary Annabelle, age 4.