ENMU football legend Cale Sanders named head coach at Carlsbad High

Carlsbad High School has announced Cale Sanders as its head football coach.

Sanders, who served as Cavemen Football’s offensive coordinater last season, was a prolific wide receiver for Eastern New Mexico University from 1999-2003 and was inducted into the university athletic program’s Hall of Honors in 2018.

Sanders joined the Cavemen under former Head Coach Oliver Soukup, who served one successful season last year before moving on to his current role as defensive coordinator for ENMU. Soukup previously served as assistant head coach at ENMU from 2015-2021.

Sanders takes the helm of a Cavemen football program that made it to the NMAA playoffs and boasted five NMHSCA All-State honorees last season.

Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway asked the community to join him in congratulating Sanders on the new role. Sanders previously coached at Portales High, Midland Lee and his alma mater Goddard High before taking a break from teaching and coaching, according to the mayor. Janway and Carlsbad High are excited that he’s returned to coaching with the Cavemen.

“Athletic director Greg Haston says Coach Sanders has a passion for youth and embraces the challenges of building Carlsbad’s football program,” Janway reported.

‘Coach Sanders has a passion for youth and embraces the challenges of building Carlsbad’s football program’