ENMU-Ruidoso Hires Nate Poss as Athletics Coordinator
Nate Poss, Alto, begins April 1, 2024, as the first ENMU-Ruidoso Branch Community College Athletics Coordinator. Poss recently retired from the University of Texas-El Paso as director of football operations, where he served since 1997.
Poss had many responsibilities during his stint with five head coaches at UTEP, everything from recruiting, coaching on the field, planning and implementing training camps, and student athlete housing, both on- and off-campus. He also helped arrange community service appearances for UTEP players and coaches, particularly with local schools, the Child Crisis Center and the Boys and Girls Club. The football team annually ranked among UTEP’s top sports programs in community service hours.
A West Texas native, Poss helped the coaching staff in other areas, including overseeing the training table, compliance and recruiting weekends and assisting with academics. He worked hand-in-hand with on-campus entities to coordinate players’ scholarship checks and campus finances.
Poss graduated from Big Spring High School in Big Spring, Texas, where he was named to the school’s “Team of the Century” for football. His performance, including lettering for four years, as a wide receiver and defensive back gained him a scholarship to Rice University where he played defensive back for the Owls.
He has a bachelor’s degree in commerce and religion from Rice. He spent three years as sports editor of the Big Spring Herald and one year as editor of Big Time Sports magazine that served the Permian Basin, and worked as a marketing representative for the Fina Oil and Chemical Corp. in Miami, Fla.
He has a master’s degree in education from Sul Ross State University. While there he served as the running backs and defensive backs coach, as well as assistant basketball coach.
Poss also coached in the Texas prep ranks at Kermit High School, Greenwood High in Midland, and Coronado High in El Paso, as well as served as president of the El Paso Coaches’ Association.
Recently he served as the National President for the collegiate Director of Football Operations organization. This leadership role consisted of organizing and implementing two live national meetings at the Dallas Cowboys The Star, and in San Antonio, and served as the Conference USA spokesman.
Poss enjoys visiting ex-athletes and coaches and watching them coach and play in the NFL. Not to mention his family and friends around the country, and always hosting his annual Christmas party in the summer.
Nate’s father, Delnor Poss, served as director of athletics at Midland Junior College for 17 years. In 1995, the elder Poss was honored as NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year. He has coached four national championship golf teams at Midland College. Delnor Poss was also inducted into the College Golf Hall of Fame in the summer of 2009.
