To say it's a labor of love for Ryan Cordova doesn't do it justice.

Officially employed as the athletic director and men's head basketball coach at Northern New Mexico College, the Española native does a lot more than what his business card indicates.

He's also the team's part-time bus driver -- "Driven us on five road trips this season," he says proudly -- and its sports information director. On top of that he's the video coordinator, equipment manager, travel planner, statistician, webmaster and chief recruiter.

Oh, and he does the laundry during road trips.

"I always make sure to get a bottle of detergent every time we get to a hotel," he says.

Cordova conservatively estimates that he puts in about 65 hours each week during basketball season. His wife figures it's in the neighborhood of 90-plus.

Until now, Cordova never had a problem with it.

All that changed earlier this week when he walked out of a meeting with the college's president. He was told there's a chance the state could eliminate the athletic department's modest $200,000 annual budget before the end of the legislative session.

That's $200K for all sports. Salaries. Recruiting. Equipment. Travel. The works.

Cordova has become an expert at cutting corners.

His office is peppered with items pilfered from his own home. Over there is the extra TV. On that desk is his own fax machine. In the corner is the spare fridge. On the wall is a dry erase board rescued from his dad's scrap heap.

"I never felt discouraged until now," Cordova says. "I'm not worried about losing my job. What I'm concerned with is the players. Most of these athletes are New Mexico kids. They wouldn't be here if it weren't for sports, and they're out there in the community. They're making good grades. They're making an image for the school."

NNMC's men's and women's basketball teams will be at home on Saturday. The women will play at 1 p.m. and the men at 3. After that comes the men's season finale on Tuesday in Las Cruces. The winless Eagles (0-28) will be facing New Mexico State in a game that will bring enough spare cash to pay the bills.

Cordova has ideas to generate additional funding, but the truth is that Eagles athletics can't survive without the state's help. And he's not asking for much. He points out that $200,000 -- down more than 10 percent from a couple of years ago -- is less than what most NCAA Division I assistant coaches make.

Having coached in the high school ranks, Cordova says holding down the fort at NNMC is infinitely more challenging.

"At least in high school it was a level playing field," he says. "But here, we're David going against Goliath every day."

It's time at least one Goliath -- the politicians -- stop planning to swipe David's dough.