The Zero-and-Zero Mentality: How Coach Brad Hofmann is Still Rebuilding the Timberwolves

The most dangerous thing in sports is a team that knows it can win but still plays like it has everything to prove. As the 2025-26 high school basketball season tips off, the East Mountain High School Timberwolves find themselves in precisely that position.

Just two seasons ago, the Timberwolves were mired in a 5-19 slump, searching for identity and momentum. Then came the breakout. In the 2024-25 campaign, East Mountain engineered the best turnaround in New Mexico Class 3A basketball, finishing 19-10 and securing a third-place finish in District 5-3A.

For most programs, a 14-game swing in the win column would be cause for a victory lap. For head coach Brad Hofmann, now entering his third season at the helm and seventh with the program, it’s ancient history.

“Every year is a new year,” Hofmann says, dismissing the idea that last season’s success adds pressure. “You start from scratch. Nothing is guaranteed. You’re zero and zero. We try to get better every day and stay process-oriented.”

The “Five Starter” Anomaly

If the Timberwolves are starting from scratch, they are doing so with a head start that few high school coaches ever enjoy. While the roster officially shows the graduation of one starter from last year’s 19-win squad, the reality on the court tells a different story.

“We kind of joke that we graduated one starter, but we’re returning five,” Hofmann says.

The math works out because of the return of senior Damion Reyes. Reyes, a key starter early in the 2024-25 season, suffered a serious knee injury during the team’s Christmas tournament last winter. His absence forced younger players into the rotation, building critical depth. Now, Reyes is back, healthy, and wearing a brace—joining the very player who took his spot in the starting lineup.

This unique situation gives East Mountain a roster loaded with battle-tested experience. The core is anchored by seniors Aiden Erickson and Quinlan Gwyther. Erickson, known for his speed on the track, brings that same acceleration to the hardwood, while Gwyther adds size and resilience, having battled back from his own injury history.

“We have some experience coming back, which is always a good thing,” Hofmann notes. “Now we just need to put it to use.”

The Engine in the Middle

While the seniors provide the leadership, the statistical engine of the team might well be the coach’s son, Eric Hofmann. As a sophomore last season, the younger Hofmann was a revelation, leading the team in rebounding and finishing second in scoring. His father describes his role not in terms of points but in terms of presence.

“He was a starter who started the games he was healthy for,” Coach Hofmann said. He’s a coach who isn’t going to brag on his son, but the stats back up our hype: Eric has developed into a “wall” in the paint, a necessary asset in a district that features physical teams like Sandia Prep and Bosque.

Defense Travels

When asked what fans should expect from the Timberwolves this year, Hofmann doesn’t promise high-flying dunks or 80-point explosions. He points to the unglamorous work that travels well on cold bus rides to away games.

“I do believe that everything starts with your defense,” Hofmann says. “The old adage is ‘defense travels.’ There will be nights where you don’t shoot the ball great, but you can play outstanding defense every night.”

That philosophy was on display during a recent practice where the team ran a defensive drill that looked suspiciously like an offensive passing weave. The goal wasn’t just to move the ball, but to force defenders to adjust their stance and jump to the pass repeatedly.

“Passing at the high school level is a really important skill that takes work,” Hofmann explains. “It’s not always making crisp passes, but meeting passes… not waiting for it to get to you, but going to the ball and really snatching it.”

A Family Affair

The culture at East Mountain extends beyond the players. The coaching staff is a tight-knit unit featuring assistants Jim Weeks and Paul Neary, along with a special tactical weapon: Nancy Hofmann.

“She’s on it,” Brad says of his wife, who is often seen running drills with a precision that matches the head coach. It’s a family atmosphere that permeates the roster. The players, Hofmann notes, have learned the delicate balance of having fun while working hard—a trait that was essential during the lean years and remains vital now that expectations have risen.

The Road Ahead

The 2025-26 schedule offers no easy nights. The Timberwolves will be tested early and often, competing in the Bruce King Tournament in Moriarty and the Bean Valley Tournament in Estancia. These tournaments, which require teams to play three games in three nights, are designed to test the very depth Hofmann has cultivated.

“You can’t win a tournament on the first night,” Hofmann says. “You have to have players step up.”

The district slate is equally daunting. District 5-3A remains a gauntlet, with perennial contenders like Sandia Prep and Bosque waiting in January. But for a team that has already proven it can climb out of the cellar, the focus isn’t on the opponents. It’s on the man in the mirror.

“You’re either going to get better today, or you’re going to get a little worse,” Hofmann tells his team. “You don’t really stay the same.”

As the Timberwolves prepare for their season opener, the memory of 19 wins is a nice confidence booster, but it’s not a crutch. They are 0-0. They are healthy. And for the first time in years, they are the team everyone else in the East Mountains is watching.

East Mountain Timberwolves 2025-26 Season at a Glance

• Head Coach: Brad Hofmann (3rd Season)
• 2024-25 Record: 19-10 (3rd in District 5-3A)
• Key Returners: Damion Reyes (Sr.), Aiden Erickson (Sr.), Quinlan Gwyther (Sr.), Eric Hofmann (Jr.).
• Key Tournaments: Moriarty Tournament (Dec 11-13), Bean Valley Tournament (Jan 8-10).
• ROSTER: Liam Pierce, Hunter Chancellor, Vicente J Ortiz, Damion Reyes, Tony Cintron-Warren, Eli Conklin, Quinlan Gwyther, Benjamin Schwebke, Aiden Erickson, Eric Hofmann