Rosen

Al Rosen, Gadsden’s head coach, will be taking the helm at Centennial High School beginning in May, 2012.

The newest high school in Las Cruces, Centennial’s population will include a cross section from each of the other three high schools, but will impact Las Cruces High the most. The high school will begin the 2012-13 season with primarily a freshmen and sophomore population, and compete in Class 4A for two seasons.

This is Rosen’s first attempt at building a program from scratch, but given his penchant for winning and coaching skills, expect the program to be force in short time.

Bennett, associated mostly with her success at El Paso Burges and Montwood, had led Santa Teresa to a district title in 2010. On the club side, Bennett has led the El Paso Heat, coaching some notable El Paso area standouts.

The Knights have been in coaching limbo the past few years, with most recently with the single season tenure of Alice Borden, who left to pursue a different career path in California.

Hopefully Bennett will be able to strike root at Oñate and outlast her predecessors. One thing is certain; with a resurgent Mayfield, a  stronger Las Cruces squad and defending 5A state champs Gadsden in the district, Bennett will have her work cut out for her.

Read about the Bennett hire in the Las Cruces Bulletin and Meet the Preps.

Wallis leaves the Cleveland Storm, the runner-up finisher in last year’s 5A campaign, a team brimming with talent and considered a contender this season.

“I’m really excited about it but it has been so tough leaving my program, my kids, and a loaded team,” Wallis said.

Wallis has bounced around the southwest in his years of prep-level coaching, including a notable head coaching stint at Gadsden. He has called the Albuquerque area home for last few years, assisting at Rio Rancho and of course the Cleveland gig. The UNM position is the perfect opportunity for Wallis to advance his career without disrupting his family life.

“This job with UNM will be a great opportunity to work with someone new who is also very good at what they do and I don’t have to uproot my family and move again.”

In an interesting turn of events earlier this year, Chapin, where Beltran was an interim, decided to hire El Paso High head coach Joe Morales. The Canutillo coach, Yesenia Alarcon, was hired to replace coach Morales at El Paso High, and Beltran’s hire at Canutillo finally rounded out the music chair game.

To clarify, the story as published states “He said he believes he is in the right place.” This is a misprint, as coach Beltran is female.

Courtesy of the El Paso Times

Canutillo introduces boys basketball, volleyball coaches
By Aaron Bracamontes / El Paso Times
Posted: 07/21/2010 11:58:26 PM MDT

EL PASO – Canutillo High School officially announced two new head coaches Wednesday.

Larry Morales will take over as head coach of the boys basketball team, while Andi Beltran is the new volleyball coach.

Beltran was the interim coach for Chapin last season, leading the Huskies to a playoff appearance. In the bi-district round, Chapin defeated Canutillo in five sets.

“I’m excited to come into a program that already has a foundation set for it,” Beltran said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to inherit some great assistants, who have keep things afloat for the past few months.”

Beltran said the team to beat this season in District 2-4A will be defending champion Riverside.

“We want to make a mark in the district and go win a bi-district game,” Beltran said. “After that we want to focus on the area round.”

The entire Canutillo community has been welcoming to Beltran, who replaces Yesenia Alarcon. He said he believes he is in the right place.

“The middle school was willing to open their gym while ours is being renovated,” Beltran said. “I grew up on the West Side and I feel like I’m coming home.”

Aaron Bracamontes may be reached at abracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6381.

Bajek, who coached San Elizario the last two seasons, will be taking over for Vanessa Strange, who jumped ship for El Dorado. He will be inheriting some quality volleyball players in Alexia Heist (Wildfire), Alyhsa Blanco (Wildfire) and Yasmin Al-Hanfoosh (Texas Power).

Coach Bajek also coached RapidFire 18 Kaepa team and was recently elected as the SURVA Southwest Representative.

Eastwood picks new volleyball head coach
By Aaron Bracamontes \ El Paso Times

EL PASO — Change will be in the air this fall for Eastwood High School athletics.

Five months after naming a new head football coach, Eastwood High School presented a new leader Thursday for its volleyball program.

Aaron Bajek was named the Troopers’ new volleyball coach, replacing Vanessa Strange, who in March accepted the head volleyball coach job at El Dorado.

“It’s definitely a big job for me, but I’m excited,” Bajek said. “There’s a good core there, and I think they are hungry … They’ve been second or third in district the last two years and I think they want more.”

Eastwood has had its share of volleyball success in recent years, as Strange compiled a 108-48 record (82-42 in District 1-5A) with four playoff appearances in eight seasons as coach.

In his two years at San Elizario, Bajek coached the Eagles to a 48-27 record (19-9 in District 2-4A) with playoff appearances in both seasons.

The players were introduced to Bajek by Eastwood athletic coordinator and football coach David Satcher on Friday. Satcher was named head football coach for the Troopers on Jan. 29.

“They were really excited,” Satcher said. “Our girls were waiting for someone to take the leadership.”

Bajek said he hopes to use the summer to get the players and their parents clicking together.

“I want dedication and I want to build off the changes with the Eastwood football team, too,” Bajek said. “We want girls in there who are there for the right reasons. So hopefully we can get some girls to college.”

Bajek hopes the Troopers can play well at their opening tournament in San Antonio and be in mid-season form by the time they begin district.

“He has a plan and vision of where they should be,” Satcher said. “He sees them in the playoffs and he is going to push them there.”

Bajek informed the San Elizario team of his decision Saturday and said it was an emotional farewell.

“It hurt me to go,” he said. “I told them I didn’t leave them for one player or even a team but for a bunch of reasons that they may not completely understand until they are adults.”

During his time in San Elizario, Bajek said he enjoyed working with the players.

“I had originally wanted to stay there at least four to five years,” he said. “But sometimes you get opportunities you can’t pass up.”

At Eastwood, Bajek has big goals for the Troopers, who return six players from last year’s squad.

“5A is a bigger stage,” Bajek said. “I want to get past the first round of the playoffs and see what it is like.”

Aaron Bracamontes may be reached at abracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6381.

Borden takes over for Jennifer Jordan, who resigned in late March for personal reasons.

Borden has had a distinguished volleyball career. A standout at Gadsden High School in Anthony, NM, Borden played for the New Mexico State Aggies from 2003-2007. After a brief stint as a color commentator covering NMSU volleyball, Alice returned to her roots as an assistant at Gadsden under head coach Al Rosen for the 2009 season.

“She did a good job here, and I’m sure she’ll do the same there as head coach”, said Rosen.

The Black Knights, a team that has seen its fair share of struggles over the recent years, had been set back on course by Coach Jordan. With the improvements came a bid to the 2009 State Tournament–look for Borden to continue building on this solid foundation.