����������ϼ�

Two of Class 5A’s elite girls soccer programs, including the defending state champion, are under new management.

Aaron Forrester, who led Eldorado to a pair of state championships, including last fall, resigned last month, but earlier this week he landed a new job – as La Cueva’s head coach.

“I think it was probably just time for me to find something new and try and accomplish it in a different location,” Forrester, 51, said.

Todd Padgett, who brings to the table extensive collegiate experience, including being a former head women’s coach at Eastern New Mexico, is Forrester’s replacement at Eldorado.

Forrester led the Eagles to titles in 2022 and last fall.

“I was really happy at Eldorado, just felt it was time to do something new,” he said.

The Eldorado-La Cueva rivalry already is one of New Mexico’s best. Forrester said he had great respect for the Bears program; Amber Ashcraft resigned following last season.

“It’s been well cared for,” Forrester said. “It’s a stalwart of girls soccer in New Mexico. I’m really excited to be head of the program.”

La Cueva hasn’t had a new girls soccer coach since 1997. It has a state record 17 championships, the last one coming in 2024.

“I look forward to putting my print on things and continue the things that have been successful,” Forrester said.

Padgett, a former player at Sandia, brings extensive college experience to Eldorado as he looks to keep the Eagles on their current plateau.

“Are you ever going to better a state championship in New Mexico soccer? No, you’re not. I look forward to the challenge,” Padgett said.

He is a former technical director at Colorado Mesa. He also is a past women’s head coach at Eastern New Mexico and also coached at Fort Lewis College.

And having played at Sandia, he is extremely familiar with Eldorado soccer.

“One of the most exciting things about the position was taking over a team which had a phenomenal coach, and trying to build on that success,” Padgett said.

And he expects the Eagles to continue that success.

“Competition is everything,” he said. “We’ll try to be the best version of ourselves.”

Eldorado and La Cueva are not the only two girls soccer programs who are in for a change.

Greg Rusk, who won five state championships, the last one coming with Cleveland in 2023, is retiring.

He led La Cueva to four state titles in the 1990s.

“40 years is enough,” Rusk said.

He said there were multiple reasons why this was the “time to step away.”

James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at .