STAFF

Ismael "Ish" Loya

Director

Coach Loya is a graduate of Valley High School, where he was a three-year letterman under Joe Coleman. He was an All-City, All-District, and All-State performer in 2002-2003 and was named the Albuquerque Metro Player of the Year during that time. After high school, Coach Loya went on to play at New Mexico Highlands (NCAA DII) from 2003-2006.

In 2006, he made the jump to the professional ranks and played in Puebla, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Chiapas, winning two national championships between 2006-2010 (CONADEIP).

In 2010, Coach Loya began his coaching career as the Head JV coach and Assistant Coach on Varsity at Valley High School. From 2010-2016, he helped Valley achieve a 114-54 record, including an AAAAA State Championship in 2014.

In 2016, Coach Loya returned to play professionally in Mexico. In 2017, he became the youngest head coach in the history of "LBE Chihuahua" and was appointed Head Coach and GM for Nueceros de Camargo.

In 2016, Coach Loya founded "Warriors Camargo," a basketball club that focuses on developing youth players both on and off the court. The club provides scholarship opportunities for players in the US and Mexico for high school and college.

From 2018 to 2022, Coach Loya served as the Head Assistant Coach at Sandia High School in Albuquerque, working with the Boys Basketball Program under Head Coach Danny Brown. During this time, Sandia achieved a 45-45 record, including a 27-12 record in the last two seasons, and securing a 5-5A District Championship in 2021. In addition, the team made two appearances in the "Elite Eight" of the NMAA 5A Boys State Tournament in both 2021 and 2022.

Coach Ish was appointed as the Men's Basketball Associate Head Coach at Northern New Mexico College (NAIA) for the 22-23 season. In his role, Coach Ish is responsible for assisting the head coach in all aspects of the program, including recruiting, player development, game preparation, and overall program management.

In May 2024, Coach Loya was named Head Coach at Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque, NM.

Coach Loya holds several licenses and certifications, including a USA Basketball Gold License (#41794436), FIBA License (#202000292), NMPED Level 2 7-12 Athletic Coaching License (#342865), NFHS Coach Level 1, NFHS Coach Level 2, and NFHS Coach Level 3.

Stephen Miera is currently an assistant coach for the Bakersfield College men's basketball program.  “I’m very excited to welcome Coach Miera to the Renegade family, said current Interim Men's Basketball Coach Aaron Chavez. "He comes very highly recommended from Coach Craig Snow (Current University Of New Mexico Assistant Coach) and Coach Mike Dominguez (Current NMHU Head Coach).  His work ethic and his desire to help the student athlete is something that fits into our program. We pride ourselves on being hard working and holding ourselves to a “higher standard”  

Prior to BC he spent two seasons as the director of operations for the New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) men's basketball program. “Coach Miera was instrumental with our success here at New Mexico Highlands University," said NMHU head men's basketball coach Mike Dominguez. "His work ethic and commitment to our program and the players was second to none. Coach Miera was a big reason we won the 2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament and a bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

Coach Chávez and Bakersfield College are going to be very impressed with Coach Miera’s work ethic and his willingness to always think about the student-athlete.”

Miera has 15 years of basketball experience, including coaching alongside Danny Brown at Albuquerque's Highland High School for six seasons and followed that with three years coaching on the AAU travel circuit. Miera also spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at NMHU.

Coach Miera ventured into the international market for a year as a recruiting specialist and professional trainer working with collegiate and pro athletes in Mexico. He returned to the U.S. and led Robert F. Kennedy High School to an 18-0 record and a Albuquerque Charter School Athletic league title in 2016-17.

Coach Miera received his bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico and an M.A. in Human Performance and Sport from NMHU.