Back in the day, country-western singer Kenny Rogers had a string of top hits and I remember a radio disc jockey saying, “will the string of hits ever stop?” For Grants High School head baseball coach, Mike Furbee, his string of “hits” may be just starting.
Fresh off a state championship win in 4A baseball this past Spring, the first for GHS, followed by being named district 5 4-A coach of the year for a second year in a row and now this. Coach Furbee was named New Mexico High School Baseball Coach of the Year by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSBCA).
“I was happy – not for me, but for my staff... the hard-working group that trusts in what we are doing; without them, our success wouldn't be possible,” said head coach Mike Furbee about receiving the coveted Coach of the Year award.
Furbee, no stranger to success, had a three-peat as a state champion in softball in (2004, 2005, 2006), may very well be on a roll of “hits” with the GHS baseball team.
Last season, his first year as head coach, he took the baseball team to a 23-6, 8-0 record losing in the semifinals to Albuquerque Academy by a score of 7-5.
This season, Furbee and the Pirates went all the way defeating Portales 4-3 and 13-3 in the first round of the state baseball tournament, then defeating Bernalillo in the quarterfinals (4-2), then defeating Albuquerque Academy, their nemesis, by a score of 6-5 in 9 innings and finally surpassing Artesia by a score of 5-3 in the state championship game.
“Coaching has ups and downs but I do it for my players,” said Furbee.
Furbee’s road to success started with “helping out” with volleyball in 1998, then went on to assist girls basketball and eventually become the head coach of softball in 2000.
Coach Furbee returned as head coach of GHS baseball in 2022 after former head coach Walter Sarracino retired.
Over the years, his coaching philosophy has changed.
“I am sure there are days that they hate me (players) but in the end it’s tough love,” said Furbee.
“It’s a different era, kids don’t respond well to that old mindset, so now I let the players be involved more with our process—to a point,” said Furbee.
He has also adjusted to current time pressures of a busy society and has “shorter practices” with some time off with a new philosophy of “less is more.”
I’m sure Furbee, his staff and players want “more” not “less” in future success.
This year the Pirates had seven players named to the 4A All State Team.
Niko Young (pitcher), Estevan Barela (pitcher), Izeyah Manzanares (infield), Dominick Gonzales (infield), Boudy Melonas (outfield), Noah Lundstrum (outfield) as well as coach Furbee.