08/28/2025
The Fight Ahead: Centennial Soccer Coach Faces Cancer with Courage
It started with something so smallājust a nosebleed.
Centennial High School soccer coach Alex Reyes never imagined that a simple trip to the emergency room for a bloody nose that wouldnāt stop would turn into life-altering news.
Doctors ran bloodworkāsomething not always done for a nosebleedāand discovered Reyes had less than half the blood volume he should have. He was also in the latter stages of kidney failure.
āI 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,ā Reyes said. āObviously, it completely shocked me.ā
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.
āThe support Iāve gotten from my family, friends, and the community has been humbling in so many ways,ā Reyes said softly. āI am truly blessed to have the love and encouragement Iāve had.ā
The Fight Ahead
Now, every week, Reyes sits through grueling chemotherapy treatmentsāfour to six hours at a time. He has endured eight treatments so far and continues to fight with quiet resilience.
āIām strong in my faith, and Iām strong in who I am as a person,ā he said. āNo matter what, I always live my life moving forward.ā
The diagnosis has forced Reyes to temporarily step back from his beloved role as Centennialās head coach. Former boysā coach Daniel Loya immediately came out of retirement to help shoulder the load.
āAt the end of the day, I love what I do,ā Reyes said. āIāve been coaching for 35 years here in New Mexico, and for me, itās always been about the kids.ā
Loya remembers the moment he heard the news. āI was on vacation, just getting off the plane, when I got the message,ā he said. āItās crazy how life can turn so quickly.ā
For Reyes, the hardest part wasnāt just his own diagnosisāit was the impact on his players. āNot only did it affect me, but it affected the girls and the program in so many ways,ā he said. āThere was so much uncertainty about what we were going to do.ā
With Loya not hesitating to step in, Reyes feels a sense of relief and gratitude. āHis wife and kids gave him the blessing to come out and help, and I canāt say enough about that,ā Reyes said. āItās what we needed right nowāit lets me focus on taking care of myself.ā
A Community Rallies
Earlier this month, Reyes underwent a bone marrow biopsy. Doctors determined he is currently at ultraāhigh-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.
āEvery day I feel a little stronger,ā Reyes said. āI try to stay positive and keep moving forward. I know there will be setbacks, but my mentality is that I have to keep pushing. Itās not easyābut we do what weāve got to do.ā
At 54, a father of two, Reyes continues to inspire everyone around him with his courage and perspective. āAt the end of the day, I love this game, I love what I do, and itās all about the kids,ā 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.
š Support Alex and his family through medical hardship
Every dollar raised goes directly toward helping the Reyes family through this battleāso Alex can focus on healing.
