New Mexico Stars
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = New Mexico Stars
| current =
| logo =New Mexico Stars Logo.png
| helmet = New Mexico Stars Helmet Logo.png
| founded = 2012
| folded = 2016
| city = Rio Rancho, New Mexico
at Santa Ana Star Center
| misc = [http://nmstarsif.com/ NMStarsIF.com]
| colors = Black, red, gold, white
{{Color box|black}} {{Color box|#CD0000}} {{Color box|#FFCC11}} {{Color box|white}}
| owner =Dart Clark (2011–2012)
Jerry Dunn (2012)
Chris Williams (2013)
Paul Parsons, Samuel Rodriguez & Ernie Guill (2014)
Tracy & Crystal Duran (2015–2016)
| general manager =
| coach =
| cheerleaders = Advanced Dance West
| mascot =
| league =
Indoor Football League (2012)
* Intense (2012)
Lone Star Football League (2013–2014)
American Indoor Football (2016)
* Western/Southern (2016)
| team_history =
- New Mexico Stars (2012–2014, 2016)
| no_league_champs = 0
| league_champs =
| no_conf_champs = 0
| conf_champs =
| no_div_champs = 1
| div_champs = AIF Western: 2016 (by default)
| no_playoff_appearances = 3
| playoff_appearances = LSFL: 2013, 2014
AIF: 2016
| arena_years =
- Santa Ana Star Center (2012–2014, 2016)
}}
The New Mexico Stars were a professional indoor football team based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The Stars played their home games at the Santa Ana Star Center.
They began play in the Indoor Football League (IFL) during the 2012 season as an expansion team. The Stars left the IFL after one season and joined the Texas-based Lone Star Football League (LSFL) where they would play for two seasons. Prior to the 2015 season, the Stars were purchased by Tracy and Crystal Duran and the team announced it was going to play in Champions Indoor Football for 2015. However, the team would instead go on hiatus for the season. The Stars then attempted to join other indoor football leagues until playing the 2016 season as a member of American Indoor Football (AIF) as part of a West Division. Most of the West Division collapsed leaving the Stars regionally isolated and forced to schedule games against many local semi-professional teams. The AIF ceased operations following the 2016 season, leaving the Stars without a league. The Durans would move to Mississippi later in 2016 and the Stars would officially fold.
The Stars were the second indoor team to play in Rio Rancho, following the American Indoor Football Association's New Mexico Wildcats, which played the 2008 and 2009 seasons before folding.
Franchise history
=2012=
In October 2011, team owner and general manager Dart Clark made an announcement that indoor football would be returning to New Mexico.{{cite news |url=http://www.rrobserver.com/news/local/article_2ccc5ef8-f456-11e0-9149-001cc4c03286.html |title=Indoor football returning to Santa Ana Star Center |date=October 12, 2011 |author=Gary Herron |newspaper=Rio Rancho Observer |access-date=August 27, 2012}} During the announcement, Clark stated that the team would be nicknamed the Stars, the head coach would be Chris Williams and that the team would play at the Santa Ana Star Center.{{cite web |url=http://www.krqe.com/dpp/sports/nm_sports/indoor-football-comes-to-new-mexico |title=Indoor football comes to New Mexico |date=October 20, 2011 |author=Van Tate |publisher=CBS |work=www.krqe.com |access-date=August 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022230406/http://www.krqe.com/dpp/sports/nm_sports/indoor-football-comes-to-new-mexico |archive-date=October 22, 2011 }} The team tried to make a large splash early on to help boost interest in the team when they offered NFL veteran wide receiver, Terrell Owens,{{cite web |url=http://www.krqe.com/dpp/sports/nm_sports/new-mexico-stars-offer-owens |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127061728/http://www.krqe.com/dpp/sports/nm_sports/new-mexico-stars-offer-owens |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2013 |title=New Mexico Stars offer Owens |date=October 26, 2012 |publisher=CBS |work=www.krqe.com |access-date=August 27, 2012 }} former University of New Mexico star, DonTrell Moore and former University of Wisconsin–Madison All-American, Erasmus James.{{cite news |url=http://www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_59f93c0c-3e52-11e1-89ba-0019bb2963f4.html |title=Stars in their eyes: IFL season approaches |date=January 15, 2012 |author=Gary Herron |newspaper=Rio Rancho Observer |access-date=August 27, 2012}} Owens would eventually sign with the Allen Wranglers (also of the IFL).{{cite news |url=http://www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_8d27c4d0-46f0-11e1-9109-001871e3ce6c.html |title=The Stars come out during the daytime, too |author=Gary Herron |date=January 25, 2012 |newspaper=Rio Rancho Observer |access-date=August 23, 2012}} The Stars played their first game on February 25, 2012 against the Colorado Ice. The Stars won the game 46-39 in front of a home crowd of around 3,600.{{cite news |url=http://www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_b9d2f6ca-626c-11e1-a829-001871e3ce6c.html |title=Stars melt the Ice in IFL debut |author=Gary Herron |date=February 29, 2012 |newspaper=Rio Rancho Observer |access-date=August 27, 2012}} The team was run by Clark until March 2012, when the Stars made a change, naming Jerry Dunn majority owner and interim general manager.{{cite news |url=http://www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_aecde5be-786a-11e1-ac75-001871e3ce6c.html |title=Stars hit the road — so does Dart Clark |date=March 28, 2012 |newspaper=Rio Rancho Observer |access-date=August 16, 2012}} After the teams April 20 game at the Wyoming Cavalry, two Stars players, (one of which was Darius Marshall) were arrested and charged with assault on a member of the Cavalry.{{cite news |url=http://trib.com/news/local/casper/two-nm-stars-players-charged-with-assault/article_6cc32179-59dc-5749-9369-8675dc6aabda.html |title=Two NM Stars players charged with assault |date=April 21, 2012 |author=E.J. Conzola II |newspaper=Casper Star Tribune |access-date=August 27, 2012}} The following week, the four players involved in the altercation were released.{{cite news |url=http://www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_8df609fa-90bd-11e1-813e-0019bb2963f4.html |title=Stars ax four fight-involved players |date=April 29, 2012 |newspaper=Rio Rancho Observer |access-date=August 27, 2012}} The Stars ended the 2012 season with a 2-12 record, a last place finish in the Intense Conference.{{cite news |title=Stars finish in last place |url=http://www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_b398cc1a-ba52-11e1-901e-001a4bcf887a.html |author=Gary Herron |date=June 20, 2012 |newspaper=Rio Rancho Observer |access-date=August 27, 2012}}
=2013=
In 2013, the Stars would play in the Lone Star Football League.{{cite news |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/2012/09/14/stars-shifting-to-lone-star-league.html |title=Stars Shifting to Lone Star League |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |author=Bob Christ |date=September 14, 2012}} In October 2012, Dunn sold the ownership of his team to head coach, Chris Williams.{{cite news |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/2012/10/05/coach-has-ownership.html |title=Coach Has Ownership |date=October 5, 2012 |author=Bob Christ |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |access-date=October 5, 2012}} Williams purchased 51% of the team's ownership, while the LSFL owned the remaining 49%. Along with the Abilene Bombers, the Stars finished the season with a 6–7 record.
=2014=
Williams left the Stars after the 2013 season to take the head coaching job with the Texas Revolution.{{cite web |url=http://www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_ad89783e-fbcd-11e2-882e-001a4bcf887a.html |title=Williams leaves Stars, heads to Allen, Texas |date=August 4, 2013 |author=Gary Herron |publisher=Rio Rancho Observer |work=www.rrobserver.com |access-date=August 6, 2013}} On August 16, 2013, the Stars ownership moved into an LLC. known as "Texas 3", which consists of Paul Parsons, Samuel Rodriguez & Ernie Guill.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4666116 |title=New Mexico Stars Announce New Ownership |date=August 16, 2013 |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |access-date=August 23, 2013}} The Stars finished the regular season 7-5, good enough to earn the 3rd seed in the league and advance to a semi-final match up against the Rio Grande Valley Sol, with a berth in the 2014 LSFL Championship Game on the line. However, due to the Sol failing to meet league obligations and deadlines, they were suspended from the league and the Stars advanced into the Championship Game against the San Angelo Bandits.{{cite web |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/422514 |title=Saturday’s Stars’ game will be for a crown |author=Bob Christ |date=June 29, 2014 |publisher=Albuquerque Journal |work=www.abqjournal.com |access-date=July 1, 2014}} The Stars fell 64-34 to the Bandits.{{cite web |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/425750/sports/nm-loses-to-san-angelo-in-indoor-football-championship.html |title=NM loses to San Angelo in indoor football championship |date=July 6, 2014 |publisher=Albuquerque Journal |work=www.abqjournal.com |access-date=July 7, 2014}}
=2015=
The New Mexico Stars were purchased by Tracy Duran, operating under TNC Duran LLC, Tracy Duran and Crystal Duran are the members. The team joined Champions Indoor Football (CIF) for the 2015 season, but before ever playing a game in the CIF, the team planned to regroup and resume play in 2016.{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Christ |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |location=Albuquerque, NM |title=NM Stars owners pull plug on season |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/545100/sports/nm-stars-owners-pull-plug-on-season.html |date=February 22, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2015}} Financial difficulties with the new league and other issues have complicated the team's plans for 2015.{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Christ |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |location=Albuquerque, NM |title=Arena of the absurd: Local indoor football has had funny bounces |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/589357/sports/arena-of-the-absurd.html |date=May 23, 2015 |access-date=May 25, 2015}}
=2016=
On June 16, 2015, the Stars announced that they would be returning to football in 2016, playing the X-League Indoor Football. The team also announced that Carlos Cavanaugh was named the teams' new head coach.{{cite web |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/599326 |title=Stars announce change in places for 2016 |author=Bob Christ |date=June 16, 2015 |work=Albuquerque Journal |access-date=June 18, 2015}} However, on October 1, 2015, the X-League folded, and the Stars joined American Indoor Football.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=5055535 |title=AIF to Add West Division |date=October 1, 2015 |publisher=OurSports Central |access-date=October 1, 2015}}
The Stars first game was a victory over the Steel City Menace. It was the first game for both teams in the Western Division of the American Indoor Football league (AIF). The Stars then lost to the third West Division team, the Corpus Christi Fury, 59–53 with the game decided on the final play. In April 2016, former New Orleans Saints quarterback John Fourcade became the interim head coach and will lead the team through the 2016 season. However, after the initial announcement of the formerly six-team West Division schedule, three teams either folded or switched leagues prior to the start of the season. This led the team to scheduling whichever teams they could, often playing local independent semi-professional teams scheduled just days before home games in order to still have games.{{cite web |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/754145/sports/team-goes-to-plan-d-to-find-an-opponent.html |title=Stars go to Plan D to find opponent |author=Bob Christ |date=April 9, 2016 |work=Albuquerque Journal |access-date=April 6, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/769972/gladiators-hit-the-road-to-face-mesquite.html |title=Indoor football: Gladiators hit the road to face Mesquite |work=Albuquerque Journal |date=May 6, 2016}} The AIF ceased operations following the 2016 season, leaving the Stars without a league. Their website was taken down a few months later. In September 2016, team owners, Tracey and Crystal Duran, confirmed the team's demise and moved to Mississippi.{{cite web |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/850359/rio-ranchos-stars-cease-operations.html |title=Indoor football: Rio Rancho’s Stars cease operations |work=Albuquerque Journal |date=September 22, 2016}}
=Roster=
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" |
| colspan="7" style="background:#000000; border:2px solid #CD0000; color:white; text-align:center;"| 2016 New Mexico Stars roster |
|---|
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Quarterbacks
{{playern| 8|Gerard Kaufman}} {{playern|12|Jeremy Soto}} {{playern|10|Percy Turner}} Running backs {{playern|25|Kris Pettus}} {{playern| 4|P. J. Smith}} {{playern|20|Martee Tenner}} Wide receivers {{playern|17|Joshua Carson}} {{playern| 3|Kurtis Green}} {{playern |
| -|T. J. Gretzner}}
{{playern |
| -|Charles Johnson}}
{{playern| 1|LaVaughn Macon}} {{playern |
| -|Kevin McFadden}}
{{playern |
| -|Josh Vaughn}}
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Offensive linemen {{playern|53|Jr Thompson}} {{playern|77|Jamal Price}} {{playern|52|Charles Stevens}} {{playern|72|Charles Tillman}} Defensive Lineman {{playern|55|Gerald Blockman}} {{playern|51|Jeffery Bradley}} {{playern|54|Dwight Hamilton}} {{playern|70|Deron Jefferson}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Linebackers {{playern| 7|Kendrick Causey}} {{playern| 5|Chris Hernandez}} Defensive BAcks {{playern| 0|Brashard Booker}} {{playern| 9|Darius Chapman}} {{playern|22|Jameel Erving}} {{playern|21|Royel Johnson}} {{playern| 6|Anthony Ratliff}} {{playern |
| -|Kiwaski Tenner}}
Kickers {{playern |
| -|Brian Weems}}
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Injured reserve
Exempt List
rookies in italics [http://nmstarsif.com/team/roster.html Roster] updated April 28, 2016 {{small|30 Active, 0 Inactive}} → More rosters |
Head coaches
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"|Name
! rowspan="2" | Term ! colspan="4" | Regular season ! colspan="2" | Playoffs ! rowspan="2" | Awards |
|---|
| W
! L ! T ! Win% ! W ! L |
| style="text-align:center;"|Chris Williams
| style="text-align:center;"|2012–2013 | style="text-align:center;"|8 | style="text-align:center;"|18 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|8|18}} | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"| |
| style="text-align:center;"|Dominic Bramante
| style="text-align:center;"|2014 | style="text-align:center;"|7 | style="text-align:center;"|5 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|7|5}} | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"| |
| style="text-align:center;"|Carlos Cavanaugh
| style="text-align:center;"|2016 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|1|0}} | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"| |
| style="text-align:center;"|John Fourcade
| style="text-align:center;"|2016 | style="text-align:center;"|5 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|5|1}} | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"| |
Season-by-season results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:75%;" |
| style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;"|League Champions
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"|Conference Champions | style="text-align:center; background:#d0e7ff;"|Division Champions | style="text-align:center; background:#96cdcd;"|Wild Card Berth | style="text-align:center; background:#c8a2c8;"|League Leader |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" | |||
| rowspan="2" | Season
!rowspan="2" | Team !rowspan="2" | League !rowspan="2" | Conference !rowspan="2" | Division !colspan="4" | Regular season !rowspan="2" | Postseason results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish
!Wins !Losses !Ties | |||
| background:#fcc;" | |||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2012
| style="text-align:center;"| 2012 | style="text-align:center;"| IFL | style="text-align:center;"| Intense | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| 8th | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 12 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | | |||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2013
| style="text-align:center;"| 2013 | style="text-align:center;"| LSFL | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#96cdcd;"| 4th | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 |Lost Semi-Final 56-61 (Rattlesnakes) | |||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2014
| style="text-align:center;"| 2014 | style="text-align:center;"| LSFL | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#96cdcd;"| 3rd | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 |Lost Lone Star Bowl III 34-64 (San Angelo Bandits) | |||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2016
| style="text-align:center;"| 2016 | style="text-align:center;"| AIF | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;background:#d0e7ff;"| Western{{efn|Last team remaining in the Western Division, competed in the Southern Division for playoffs as the fourth seed.}} | style="text-align:center;"| 1st | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | Lost Southern Semifinals (Lions) 37-49 | |||
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5" colspan="6"|Totals
! style="text-align:center;"|21 ! style="text-align:center;"|24 ! style="text-align:center;"|0 ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|All-time regular season record (2012–2016) | |||
| style="text-align:center;" | 0 | 3 | —
| colspan="3"|All-time postseason record (2012–2016) |
| style="text-align:center;"|21
! style="text-align:center;"|27 ! style="text-align:center;"|0 ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|All-time regular season and postseason record (2012–2016) |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://nmstarsif.com/ New Mexico Stars official website]
{{AIF}}
Category:2012 establishments in New Mexico
Category:2014 disestablishments in New Mexico
Category:2016 establishments in New Mexico
Category:2016 disestablishments in New Mexico
Category:American football teams established in 2012
Category:American football teams disestablished in 2014