The Phil Griego Endowment has been established to support tuition assistance at St. Pius X High School and honor the long-time girls basketball coach who passed away in August 2021.

Working to fully fund the $30,000 endowment with the St. Pius X High School Foundation is Kevin Hillsey, SPX social studies teacher who coached with Griego for 21 years.

“I really feel like for anyone who he coached or who coached with him, he had a positive impact on our lives,” Hillsey said. “He made me a better coach and a better person too. He was a fantastic basketball coach, but 100 times that, a better person. He was my best friend. His loss has left a hole in a lot of hearts that is hard to fill.”

To donate, click here and in the Designation drop down menu, select Phil Griego Endowment. For more information, email Jean Marie Skipp or call her at 505-831-8500.

Griego led the St. Pius X girls basketball team to three state championships and 13 district titles over his 23 years coaching at the school. He died Aug. 22, 2021, from a combination of COVID-19 and leukemia. He was 60.

“Part of the thing that makes this school so special, is the tradition and the reverence people have for teachers and coaches that have been here,” Hillsey said. “I’m hoping our former players will be active in contributing funds and hopefully some of our parents will also contribute.” 

Griego’s SPX teams won state championships in 2006, 2008 and 2009. His daughters Amy Ratliff ’07 and Jessica Tafoya ’04 played for him at St. Pius X and he coached his son Eric Griego at Cibola High School, where he coached for eight years before his run at SPX.

“I think he had a huge impact on this place and a positive one,” Hillsey said. “I think that’s a fitting tribute and testimony to Phil that we do this for him.