Alfredo “Freddie” Abeyta has been coaching football at SFHS since 2020. He coaches the defensive line and co-coaches special teams. He also teaches physical education. 

Mr. Abeyta graduated from Santa Fe High School in 2015, where he played football and was a yearbook editor. While in high school, Mr. Abeyta said he didn’t know what he wanted to do and was encouraged by Ms. Gerber to come back to teach and coach his younger brother, Cruz.

After high school, Mr. Abeyta attended Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque and earned his associate’s degree in English. Then he attended UNM and earned his bachelor’s degree in 2019. He taught English for two years at Santa Fe High before moving to PE in 2023.

“The transition was pretty easy,” he said. “It’s just weird to go from commas and paragraphs to flag football and soccer!”

Mr. Abeyta said he loves teaching because he likes meeting different people and their different personalities. He also likes to learn something new every day.

Aside from teaching, Mr. Abeyta loves to play video games and lift. He is also a huge Star Wars nerd. He loves football and is a die hard Broncos fan for life. He said he coaches football because he’s always wanted to coach his brother, Cruz.

The most important thing to Mr. Abeyta is family. His biggest inspiration is his oldest brother, Anthony, because, he said, “He and I were very similar in what we would do and I just wanted to make him proud.”

Mr. Abeyta reports that his “spontaneous attitude” is what led to his wedding in Las Vegas, Nev., “though Elvis was unavailable.” 

Whether it’s here coaching his brother, or hanging out with his wife, McKayla, and son Luca, family is first for Freddie Abeyta.