Login

Coach Wes Shank leaving Miyamura for Valencia

Print

With a record that consists of more wins than losses, Miyamura High School Athletic Director Linda Anderson knew head football coach Wes Shank would get “looks” from schools near and far away from the Indian Capital.

That notion proved true over the past few months with Shank accepting a head coaching job with Valencia High school — a school looking to capitalize on Shank’s proven record of accomplishment.

Shank leaves the Miyamura athletic department in May. A replacement hasn’t yet been named.

“I just felt it was time to go,” Shank, 48, said. “My primary reason is I’m looking for another challenge. I’m looking to meet new people and just take on bigger challenges.”

Valencia officials announced the new hire Feb. 5. A native of Arlington, Texas, Shank led the Miyamura Patriots to the playoffs in three of the last four years. He amassed a 54-51 overall record and was the only coach the Patriots ever had since the District 1-5A school opened in 2007. The Boardman Drive school is located at the site of the former Gallup Junior High School.

The Valencia Jaguars

Coached by Collin Justiss, the District 5-5A Jaguars went a dismal 1-9, 0-4 in 2017 having just solely beaten Alamagordo 34-12, before falling bad — 55-point blow out losses twice — to consecutive teams after that. In four seasons, Valencia went 4-25.

Asked if he anticipates the same success at Valencia that he produced at Miyamura, Shank said it’ll probably take a while to get used to the new territory. The Jaguars and Patriots were once housed in the same athletic district.

“I’ve seen them a few times over the past year or two,” Shank said of the Jaguars. “I feel positive about what we can get accomplished.”

Shank, who played high school football in Texas, said he’ll remember the big wins Miyamura had against Farmington and Goddard over the years. The Goddard game was a recent playoff victory. Miyamura went 30-16 in Shank’s last four years and the Patriots were 9-3 last year.

Anderson said the school will “definitely miss everything Shank brought to the table.” She said Shank hinted at leaving the past year, saying the search for a new head football coach is ongoing.

By Bernie Dotson

For the Sun

Share/Save/Bookmark