Buddy Robertson

Buddy Arnold Robertson gave nearly four decades of his life to furthering the mission of high school athletics in and around Albuquerque. He retired in 2002 from his post as athletics director for the Albuquerque Public Schools. At APS, he worked tirelessly as a coach and administrator for more than 35 years.

Originally from Lamesa, Texas, Robertson came to New Mexico in the 1950s. He attended UNM on a baseball scholarship, playing from 1958-61. He was an All-Skyline catcher for three straight seasons.

After graduating from UNM in 1962, he coached the Lobos’ freshman baseball team. That was followed by a three-year stint in Belen as head baseball coach and as an assistant for the football and wrestling teams. He was a teacher, head baseball coach, assistant wrestling coach and athletics director at Valley High from 1965-77.

Robertson was responsible for initiating the first APS all-city baseball tournament. He was also responsible for the installation of artificial turf at the city’s high school football stadiums and assisted in having athletic trainers and volunteer team doctors at each high school game. Robertson was honored at the 1992 New Mexico Activities Association Hall of Fame for outstanding service in school programs.

All four of Buddy and Jerri Roberston’s children are UNM graduates.