The New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame has officially enshrined its Class of 2024 — five elite athletes who each left indelible marks in their respective sports. From rodeo arenas to NFL gridirons, the latest inductees showcase the breadth of talent that has hailed from the Land of Enchantment.
Steve “Coach” Loy: From the Sandias to the Summit of Golf
Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Steve Loy’s journey to becoming one of the most powerful figures in professional golf is a story of perseverance, leadership, and vision. Known simply as “Coach” in golf circles, Loy’s roots trace back to Sandia High School, where he excelled in both football and golf despite a harrowing childhood accident in the Sandia Mountains that nearly cost him his legs. A severe case of frostbite left him hospitalized for eight months and required the amputation of several toes. Rather than derail his athletic ambitions, the setback forged a resilient competitor whose journey through recovery began with a golf club in hand.
Loy would go on to play both football and golf at Eastern New Mexico University, captaining the Greyhounds on the gridiron and standing out on the links. He later earned a master’s degree in sports psychology from the University of Utah, launching a coaching career that saw unprecedented success. At Scottsdale Community College, he led the golf team to two NJCAA national titles, including a record-setting 31 straight wins. Later, as head coach at Arizona State, he developed a powerhouse program that won the 1990 NCAA Championship and produced dozens of All-Americans—most notably, a young phenom named Phil Mickelson.
Loy’s bond with Mickelson would evolve into one of the most impactful partnerships in modern golf. As Mickelson’s agent, business partner, and confidant, Loy helped build a brand that spanned decades and global markets. Under his leadership, they struck lucrative deals with blue-chip sponsors like Rolex, Callaway, and KPMG. His client list would eventually grow to include other PGA stars like Keegan Bradley and Jon Rahm, and his leadership roles—culminating in his presidency at global sports agency SPORTFIVE—have cemented his legacy as a titan of golf management.
Despite his meteoric rise, Loy never forgot his New Mexico roots. In 2024, he and his wife Linda donated $2.5 million to his alma mater, Eastern New Mexico University, supporting student-athletes through facility upgrades and endowments. The university honored the gift by naming the athletic complex after the Loy family. His life, both on and off the course, stands as a masterclass in grit, loyalty, and visionary leadership.
Roy Cooper: The “Super Looper” Who Roped His Way into History
Few athletes have defined a sport the way Roy Dale Cooper did in rodeo. Born and raised in Hobbs, New Mexico, Cooper became one of the most accomplished ropers the sport has ever seen. Known as the “Super Looper,” he racked up accolades over a career that spanned decades — including eight world titles, a record-breaking 1983 season, and a ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction at just 24 years old.
Cooper’s legacy was built on precision, speed, and consistency. He won his first PRCA tie-down roping championship as a rookie in 1976 and never looked back, eventually claiming six tie-down titles, a steer roping world championship, and the coveted All-Around Cowboy crown in 1983. In that standout year, he became the first cowboy in 25 years to win three PRCA discipline championships in a single season.
His influence on rodeo didn’t end in the arena. Cooper helped raise a family of champions — including three sons who followed in his footsteps — and co-founded the Cooper Rodeo Foundation to support young athletes. Though he passed away tragically in April 2025 at the age of 69, Cooper’s roping mastery and impact on the sport continue to resonate. As the Hall put it simply: “One of the most dominant ropers in the history of the sport.”
Michael Sinclair: A Sack Machine from Eastern New Mexico
From humble beginnings at Eastern New Mexico University to wreaking havoc in NFL backfields, Michael Sinclair carved out one of the most underrated — yet fearsome — careers in league history. Drafted in the sixth round by the Seattle Seahawks in 1991, Sinclair defied expectations and became a three-time Pro Bowler and the NFL sack leader in 1998 with 16.5 sacks — a Seahawks franchise record that still stands.
Sinclair was known for his relentless motor and explosive edge rush, earning him a spot on multiple Seahawks all-time lists, including the “Top Ten Defensive Players” and the franchise’s official GOAT team. His name appears throughout the record books, including leading the entire 1991 draft class in career sacks and ranking 43rd all-time in forced fumbles.
After hanging up his cleats, Sinclair found success in coaching, winning championships as a defensive line coach in NFL Europe and the CFL before joining the Chicago Bears staff in 2013. His legacy remains strong in both New Mexico and Seattle, where he’s remembered as a true diamond in the draft-day rough.
Fredd Young: The Bone-Crushing Linebacker with a Special Teams Legacy
A fierce tackler and relentless force on the field, Fredd Young made his name as one of the NFL’s premier linebackers and special teams players during the 1980s. A product of New Mexico State University, where he starred as a dominant defender, Young was a four-time Pro Bowler — twice for special teams and twice as a linebacker.
Drafted in the third round by the Seattle Seahawks in 1984, Young quickly became a team leader, earning back-to-back honors as Seattle’s Special Teams Player of the Year and anchoring the defense from 1985 to 1987. His bone-jarring hits earned him a featured spot in NFL Crunch Course, and in 1988, he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a pair of first-round picks — a testament to his value on the field.
Though injuries shortened his career, Young’s legacy lives on. He was inducted into the New Mexico State University Hall of Fame and remembered as a key figure in one of the NFL’s hardest-hitting eras. His inclusion in the Hall cements his place as one of the toughest to ever come out of the state.
Alana Nichols: New Mexico’s Paralympic Powerhouse
Alana Nichols’ story begins in Farmington, New Mexico, but her legacy stretches across continents, podiums, and Paralympic history books. A natural athlete from a young age, Nichols was raised by her grandparents after the tragic loss of her father to a drunk driver. As a teenager, she found freedom snowboarding down Colorado’s slopes—until a devastating accident in 2000 left her paralyzed from the waist down.
Rather than allowing tragedy to define her, Nichols channeled her energy into adaptive sports. She discovered wheelchair basketball at the University of New Mexico and soon transferred to the University of Arizona to pursue competitive opportunities. Her relentless drive led her to the U.S. national team, and in 2008 she struck gold in Beijing—her first of six Paralympic medals.
But Nichols wasn’t done. Inspired by the Winter Paralympics, she shifted focus to alpine skiing, training rigorously with the National Sports Center for the Disabled. Just two years later, she made history at the 2010 Vancouver Games, winning four medals—two of them gold—in a dazzling display of athletic versatility. Nichols became the first American woman to win gold medals in both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.
Even injury couldn’t slow her down. After tearing ligaments in 2013, Nichols rehabbed in time to win silver in Sochi. In 2016, she took on a new challenge—paracanoe—at the Rio Paralympics, continuing her legacy as one of the most accomplished multi-sport athletes in U.S. Paralympic history.
A master’s graduate in kinesiology and a fierce advocate for accessibility in sport, Nichols remains a symbol of resilience, grace, and empowerment. From the mountains of New Mexico to the world’s biggest stages, her story continues to inspire the next generation of athletes who dare to dream without limits.