Longtime Colorado high school basketball coach retires after 16 seasons

A longtime Colorado high school basketball coach is leaving the sidelines after 16 seasons. Bryce Kelly of the Durango Herald reported that Alan Batiste will leave the Durango High School boys’ basketball program, which he has coached since the 2010-11 season.

Batiste will be retiring to focus on his family and health, especially after suffering complications from a surgery in the summer. He leaves Durango with 176 victories and 12 playoff appearances. Now, he will have more time to be a father to his two children, including his son, who will be an incoming junior for the basketball team.

Success didn’t come easy for Batiste, as the Demons finished with four wins in his first season as a Colorado high school basketball head coach. Since then, he has turned the program into a powerhouse, leading them to six consecutive ten-win seasons from 2011-12 to 2016-17.

During the 2016-17 season, Batiste led the Demons to a 21-5 record and a Class 4A Sweet 16 finish. After that season, he resigned to spend more time with his family. However, his resignation was short-lived after his then-assistant, Dalon Parker, declined the head coaching role. Batiste returned to coaching after receiving his wife’s approval.

In his second run with Durango, he led the team to another Sweet 16 finish in the 2024-25 state playoffs. The Demons finished with a 4-17 record last season.

Before becoming a Colorado high school basketball coach, Batiste won a state championship for Santa Rita High School in Tucson, Arizona. After high school, he initially attended Saddleback Community College before transferring to Fort Lewis College. It was around this time that he helped his dad’s friend run basketball summer camps. That experience helped develop his passion for coaching and counseling.

How to Follow Colorado High School Basketball

Colorado high school basketball fans can now stay updated on scores from around the nation more easily than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment. The Rivals High School Scoreboard serves as your primary source for tracking all the high school basketball excitement throughout Colorado, from thrilling finishes to outstanding performances.