WBU Defensive Coordinator Marcos Hinojos named head football coach
LUBBOCK, Texas (PRESS RELEASE) – Wayland Baptist defensive coordinator Marcos Hinojos (Ee-NO-hōs) was named the Pioneers’ head football coach.
“I think Coach Hinojos will do a fantastic job. I’m very happy with where he wants to take the football program, both on the field and in the classroom. Change starts with how a student-athlete thinks. This philosophy is consistent with the university’s mission,” said Jim Giacomazzi, Wayland Baptist’s athletics director.
Hinojos has been coaching at Wayland since 2015, initially as a linebacker coach before being named defensive coordinator. He has served as interim head coach since Butch Henderson stepped down at the end of November.
“I believe in the Wayland Way and I believe that we have a top-notch administration, athletic department and student body,” Hinojos said. “I want to bring more respect to the football program on our campus, in our community and at our conference, and I want to continue to impact the lives of young men through the game of football and my faith in God.
“I hope that our program will be family-oriented, Christ-centered, and driven by the pursuit of higher education. We will promote “One Family, One Team” so that we can develop diverse student-athletes by encouraging participation in WBU student life and our program is at the forefront of developing and maintaining healthy relationships between coaches and faculty. All of this serves to increase the chances of success in mentoring student-athletes who come to our campus.”
Giacomazzi said Hinojos was selected after a nationwide search that resulted in more than 60 applicants and that Giacomazzi attended a coaching conference in Charlotte, NC, where he interviewed a number of applicants.
“It was a very difficult process. We had numerous applicants with great references,” says Giacomazzi.
In the end, however, he said Hinojos emerged “as a clear choice.”
“To see what Marcos has been doing with the program since November has been impressive,” said Giacomazzi. “I feel like he’s changing direction and changing the culture of the program.”
Hinojos, who graduated from Lorenzo High School in 1986, was a middle linebacker at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM from 1986-1991. He spent 23 years as a defensive coordinator at Lubbock Coronado, Wichita Falls Rider, Plainview, Kermit and Fort Stockton high schools and as an offensive coordinator at Lorenzo High School. He was also the athletics director and head football coach at Plainview High for four years before joining Wayland.
Hinojos’ defense has been considered one of the toughest in the Sooner Athletic Conference, producing numerous All-Conference selections and league-leading tacklers, including linebacker Casey Buck last season.
“I would love to see Wayland Baptist Football become a source of pride for the Plainview community, the Wayland alum, the campus as a whole and the entire West Texas/South Plains/Panhandle area,” Hinojos said.
Hinojos and his wife Jessica, a bilingual second grade teacher at Plainview North Elementary School, are members of College Heights Baptist Church. The couple have three children, all of whom were Wayland physical education students. Jacob and Marcos Jr. played soccer and Alexa recently completed her senior season as a pioneer volleyball player. Marcos Jr., is on the WBU coaching staff.
Hinojos will become only the second person to lead the Pioneers on the field after Henderson has led the program for the previous 11 seasons since Wayland resumed his football program in 2012 after a 72-year hiatus.
“I want to thank my wife and family and the administration for believing in my vision for Wayland football,” said Hinojos. “Go Neers!”
Copyright 2023 KCBD. All rights reserved.
