Rutilo "Rudy" Cordova retired from coaching the athletic administration a quarter-century ago. Yet, his influence is felt by young Albuquerque athletics almost every day. Cordova, an educator who created and nurtured a "coaches' cradle" at Albuquerque's College of St. Joseph, died Sunday following a heart attack. he was 71.
Cordova, a native of La Joya came to St. Joseph's in 1948. He served there continuosly until 1967, by which time the school was called the University of Albuquerque. The U of A is now defunct. Rudy served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII with the rank of SSGT.
1n 1956, while Cordova was St. Joseph's head men's basketball coach as well as athletic director, the Dons fielded a team that included more than a half-dozen future Albuquerque-area coaches.
Among them:
*Jim Hulsman, the longtime head boys basketball coach and athletic director at Albuquerque High School.
*Henry Sanchez, the highly successful Bernalillo High School boys coach who now coaches the men's team at Ne Mexico Highlands University.
*Vincent Cordova, Rudy's brother, who later won a boys state basketball title at Albuquerque Academy.
*Bobby Gibbs, former Highland High School coach, now the executive director of the Albuquerque Boys and Girls Clubs as well as executive secretary of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.
*Ron Tybor, former head boys coach at St. Piux X High School.
*Louie Yannoni, the first boys basketball coach at Cibola High School.
Hulsman said Cordova built the CSJ program from the ground up and kept it on that solid foundation. "I've always compared him to (former coach and athletic director) Roy Johnson at UNM". Hulsman said", Before them, educational values didn't exist.
Cordova suffered his fatal heart attack while playing tennis last Monday, an ironic but fitting conclusion, Hulsman said, to an active life. "I never saw the man smoke or drink, and he was in terrific shape. "Hulsman said. "he was an outstanding tennis player, and when he wasn't playing tennis it seemed like he was always out jogging."
Military Information: SSGT, US ARMY
Cordova, a native of La Joya came to St. Joseph's in 1948. He served there continuosly until 1967, by which time the school was called the University of Albuquerque. The U of A is now defunct. Rudy served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII with the rank of SSGT.
1n 1956, while Cordova was St. Joseph's head men's basketball coach as well as athletic director, the Dons fielded a team that included more than a half-dozen future Albuquerque-area coaches.
Among them:
*Jim Hulsman, the longtime head boys basketball coach and athletic director at Albuquerque High School.
*Henry Sanchez, the highly successful Bernalillo High School boys coach who now coaches the men's team at Ne Mexico Highlands University.
*Vincent Cordova, Rudy's brother, who later won a boys state basketball title at Albuquerque Academy.
*Bobby Gibbs, former Highland High School coach, now the executive director of the Albuquerque Boys and Girls Clubs as well as executive secretary of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.
*Ron Tybor, former head boys coach at St. Piux X High School.
*Louie Yannoni, the first boys basketball coach at Cibola High School.
Hulsman said Cordova built the CSJ program from the ground up and kept it on that solid foundation. "I've always compared him to (former coach and athletic director) Roy Johnson at UNM". Hulsman said", Before them, educational values didn't exist.
Cordova suffered his fatal heart attack while playing tennis last Monday, an ironic but fitting conclusion, Hulsman said, to an active life. "I never saw the man smoke or drink, and he was in terrific shape. "Hulsman said. "he was an outstanding tennis player, and when he wasn't playing tennis it seemed like he was always out jogging."
Military Information: SSGT, US ARMY
Rutilo "Rudy" Cordova retired from coaching the athletic administration a quarter-century ago. Yet, his influence is felt by young Albuquerque athletics almost every day. Cordova, an educator who created and nurtured a "coaches' cradle" at Albuquerque's College of St. Joseph, died Sunday following a heart attack. he was 71.
Cordova, a native of La Joya came to St. Joseph's in 1948. He served there continuosly until 1967, by which time the school was called the University of Albuquerque. The U of A is now defunct. Rudy served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII with the rank of SSGT.
1n 1956, while Cordova was St. Joseph's head men's basketball coach as well as athletic director, the Dons fielded a team that included more than a half-dozen future Albuquerque-area coaches.
Among them:
*Jim Hulsman, the longtime head boys basketball coach and athletic director at Albuquerque High School.
*Henry Sanchez, the highly successful Bernalillo High School boys coach who now coaches the men's team at Ne Mexico Highlands University.
*Vincent Cordova, Rudy's brother, who later won a boys state basketball title at Albuquerque Academy.
*Bobby Gibbs, former Highland High School coach, now the executive director of the Albuquerque Boys and Girls Clubs as well as executive secretary of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.
*Ron Tybor, former head boys coach at St. Piux X High School.
*Louie Yannoni, the first boys basketball coach at Cibola High School.
Hulsman said Cordova built the CSJ program from the ground up and kept it on that solid foundation. "I've always compared him to (former coach and athletic director) Roy Johnson at UNM". Hulsman said", Before them, educational values didn't exist.
Cordova suffered his fatal heart attack while playing tennis last Monday, an ironic but fitting conclusion, Hulsman said, to an active life. "I never saw the man smoke or drink, and he was in terrific shape. "Hulsman said. "he was an outstanding tennis player, and when he wasn't playing tennis it seemed like he was always out jogging."
Military Information: SSGT, US ARMY
Cordova, a native of La Joya came to St. Joseph's in 1948. He served there continuosly until 1967, by which time the school was called the University of Albuquerque. The U of A is now defunct. Rudy served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII with the rank of SSGT.
1n 1956, while Cordova was St. Joseph's head men's basketball coach as well as athletic director, the Dons fielded a team that included more than a half-dozen future Albuquerque-area coaches.
Among them:
*Jim Hulsman, the longtime head boys basketball coach and athletic director at Albuquerque High School.
*Henry Sanchez, the highly successful Bernalillo High School boys coach who now coaches the men's team at Ne Mexico Highlands University.
*Vincent Cordova, Rudy's brother, who later won a boys state basketball title at Albuquerque Academy.
*Bobby Gibbs, former Highland High School coach, now the executive director of the Albuquerque Boys and Girls Clubs as well as executive secretary of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.
*Ron Tybor, former head boys coach at St. Piux X High School.
*Louie Yannoni, the first boys basketball coach at Cibola High School.
Hulsman said Cordova built the CSJ program from the ground up and kept it on that solid foundation. "I've always compared him to (former coach and athletic director) Roy Johnson at UNM". Hulsman said", Before them, educational values didn't exist.
Cordova suffered his fatal heart attack while playing tennis last Monday, an ironic but fitting conclusion, Hulsman said, to an active life. "I never saw the man smoke or drink, and he was in terrific shape. "Hulsman said. "he was an outstanding tennis player, and when he wasn't playing tennis it seemed like he was always out jogging."
Military Information: SSGT, US ARMY
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