Mesalands Community College
Rodeo Team Coach

C.J. Aragon

2007/2008 Grand Canyon Region Coach-of-the-Year

In his first year as the Mesalands Community College Rodeo Team Coach, C.J. Aragon turned the rodeo program around.  The 2007/2008 Mesalands Community College Rodeo Team scored more points than the previous nine years combined.  Combined with the fact the rodeo team had the highest cumulative team GPA in the programs history, and their most successful season in the arena qualifying three students to the College National Finals Rodeo, it is easy to see why the Mesalands Community College Rodeo Team has a bright future.

C.J. Aragon has been involved in rodeo his whole life.  Growing up in Kamiah, Idaho, where he competed in high school rodeo and earned the 1993 State Championship in the team roping event with his brother Jake.

After high school C.J. attended college at Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho on a rodeo scholarship and then transferred to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  In 1998 he finished as the Intercollegiate Reserve National Champion Steer Wrestler.

After college he worked for the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC), SuperLooper Magazine, The Competitor and The All-Around.  He and his wife Tiffany have also conducted rodeo schools and clinics in New Mexico which have produced many state champions and high school finals national qualifiers in many events.

C.J. has been a top competitor in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Turquoise Circuit for many years, and has earned 11 qualifications to the Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo, a trip to the Dodge National Circuit Final Rodeo, and represented the United States Rodeo Team twice in the Sydney Royal International Rodeo in Sydney Australia.

C.J. is excited about the opportunity to work with young rodeo participants and looks forward to helping them improve their rodeo skills while they also earn a quality education at Mesalands Community College. 

Accomplishments

  • 1993 Idaho High School State Champion Team Roper with Jake Aragon

  • 1993 Idaho Cowboys Association Rookie of the Year Team Roper and Steer Wrestler

  • 1995 Idaho Cowboys Association Reserve Champion Steer Wrestler

  • 1998 NIRA Grand Canyon Reserve Champion Steer Wrestler

  • 1998 NIRA Reserve National Champion Steer Wrestler

  • 2002 Turquoise Circuit Wrangler Series Champion Steer Wrestler

  • 2006 New Mexico Rodeo Association Champion Steer Wrestler

  • 2006 Turquoise Circuit Finals Average Champion Steer Wrestling

  • 2006 Dodge National Circuit Finals Qualifier

  • 2006 -2007 Team USA Member in the Sydney Royal International Rodeo in Sydney, Australia

  • 2007/2008 Grand Canyon Region Coach-of-the-Year

  • Grand Canyon Region Faculty Director