The Fight Ahead: Centennial Soccer Coach Faces Cancer with Courage
It started with something so small—just a nosebleed.
Centennial High School soccer coach Alex Reyes never imagined that a simple trip to the emergency room for a bloody nose that wouldn’t stop would turn into life-altering news.
Doctors ran bloodwork—something not always done for a nosebleed—and discovered Reyes had less than half the blood volume he should have. He was also in the latter stages of kidney failure.
“I was dealing with a bloody nose, went to get it checked, and the next thing I knew they told me I was in kidney failure,” Reyes said. “Obviously, it completely shocked me.”
Further tests revealed something even more devastating: myeloma blood cancer, a rare and aggressive disease that originates in plasma cells. Suddenly, the man who had spent decades on the sidelines, coaching, teaching, and mentoring, found himself in the biggest fight of his life.
“The support I’ve gotten from my family, friends, and the community has been humbling in so many ways,” Reyes said softly. “I am truly blessed to have the love and encouragement I’ve had.”
The Fight Ahead
Now, every week, Reyes sits through grueling chemotherapy treatments—four to six hours at a time. He has endured eight treatments so far and continues to fight with quiet resilience.
“I’m strong in my faith, and I’m strong in who I am as a person,” he said. “No matter what, I always live my life moving forward.”
The diagnosis has forced Reyes to temporarily step back from his beloved role as Centennial’s head coach. Former boys’ coach Daniel Loya immediately came out of retirement to help shoulder the load.
“At the end of the day, I love what I do,” Reyes said. “I’ve been coaching for 35 years here in New Mexico, and for me, it’s always been about the kids.”
Loya remembers the moment he heard the news. “I was on vacation, just getting off the plane, when I got the message,” he said. “It’s crazy how life can turn so quickly.”
For Reyes, the hardest part wasn’t just his own diagnosis—it was the impact on his players. “Not only did it affect me, but it affected the girls and the program in so many ways,” he said. “There was so much uncertainty about what we were going to do.”
With Loya not hesitating to step in, Reyes feels a sense of relief and gratitude. “His wife and kids gave him the blessing to come out and help, and I can’t say enough about that,” Reyes said. “It’s what we needed right now—it lets me focus on taking care of myself.”
A Community Rallies
Earlier this month, Reyes underwent a bone marrow biopsy. Doctors determined he is currently at ultra–high-risk advanced disease, but there is good news: his kidney function has improved. He is officially out of end-stage renal failure, with fewer dietary restrictions, and he will soon be evaluated for a potential bone marrow transplant.
“Every day I feel a little stronger,” Reyes said. “I try to stay positive and keep moving forward. I know there will be setbacks, but my mentality is that I have to keep pushing. It’s not easy—but we do what we’ve got to do.”
At 54, a father of two, Reyes continues to inspire everyone around him with his courage and perspective. “At the end of the day, I love this game, I love what I do, and it’s all about the kids,” he said.
How to Help
The community has already shown incredible support. A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $40,000 of its $50,000 goal to help ease the financial burden of medical bills and treatments.
