Login

Gallup Sun

Thursday, Mar 28th

Last update12:57:39 AM GMT

You are here: Sports Features GHS hires new boys basketball coach

GHS hires new boys basketball coach

E-mail Print PDF

Girls, boys teams get new coaches

Officials at Gallup High School recently announced the hiring of James Voight as head boys basketball coach. The announcement was formally made by Gallup High Athletic Director James Malcolm.

Voight, who played basketball at New Mexico Junior College, was hired in August and participated in Gallup High’s “Orange and Black Mania” event on Nov. 11, which included “C” team, JV and varsity basketball scrimmages.

Voight is taking over for Richard Rangel, Jr., who resigned after coaching the Bengals for one year.

“I’m excited to be here,” Voight said. “I think we have a good group of guys and everybody’s eager to hit the court against competition.”

Voight previously coached at Dexter High School, where the Demons won the District 4-3A basketball championship in 2014.  Voight coached the Demons from 2011 through 2014.

“I inherited a program that won a combined 18 games the prior two seasons,” Voight said of the Dexter program.

Voight’s coaching resume also includes a coaching stint at Knox Central High in Barbourville, Ky., where he led the Panthers to a 19-13 record and an appearance in the state playoff tournament.

Voight said he’ll employ an up-tempo type of offensive style this season with the Bengals. He said the handful of seniors on the Gallup squad should provide the necessary leadership for the team to finish better than last year’s 22-8, 6-2 team that lost to Grants 59-39 in a state playoff game played at the Pit in Albuquerque.

The Bengals opened the season last year against Española and lost at home 62-49. At the Bengals’ Orange and Black Mania night, the team looked ready to go. The evening was a moment to introduce the public to this year’s team, Gallup High Principal Dominick Romero said.

The boys and girls basketball teams at Gallup High School each got new head coaches this year. Wilbert Nez, a former head basketball coach at Navajo Pine High was hired to coach the Bengals at the beginning of November.

The Bengals will open the 2016 basketball season at Española Valley at 7 pm on Nov. 25.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent