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ENMU rehires Maguire as volleyball coach

Freedom New Mexico

Jeff Geiser didn’t have to leave Eastern New Mexico University’s campus to find its new volleyball coach. But the college’s athletic director doesn’t think he would have found a coach better than Mike Maguire if he searched the country.

Maguire, who spent 20 seasons leading the Zia volleyball team, returns to the sidelines after a three-year hiatus. He comes back to the Zias with a career record of 392-264, including a 25-9 campaign in 2004 and a trip to the NCAA Division II tournament.

“Had we opened the position and done a national search,” Geiser said, “and a person with Mike Maguire’s background and success had come across my desk ... I’d have been all over that application.”

Maguire replaces Kim Falkenhagen, who resigned last week after a 16-76 record — 0-38 in the Lone Star Conference — in three seasons. Because the university could fill the vacancy internally, Geiser said, there was no requirement that the college advertise the position.

“I don’t know if we would have gotten somebody that good to apply (anyway),” Geiser said.

Maguire stepped aside in 2006, citing a desire to concentrate on athletic director duties. He resigned the AD position last spring and was named a special assistant to university President Steven Gamble, leading to the hiring of Geiser.

Before a 14-41 stretch over his final two seasons, Maguire led the Zias to 16 consecutive winning campaigns and was named Lone Star Conference coach of the year four times (1991, 1993, 1995, 1999).

A former basketball player for ENMU, the Pueblo, Colo., native has a master’s in physical education from the university.

Maguire could not be reached for comment.

Eastern New Mexico didn’t have to look far for a new volleyball coach. In fact, Athletic Director Jeff Geiser didn’t have to leave the campus.

Mike Maguire, who spent 20 seasons leading the Zia volleyball team, returns to the sidelines after a three-year hiatus. Maguire stepped aside to concentrate on athletic director duties in 2006, then became a special assistant to university President Steven Gamble last year before the university hired Geiser.

He comes back to the Zias with a career record of 392-264, including a 25-9 campaign in 2004 and a trip to the NCAA Division II tournament. He had 16 consecutive winning seasons before going 14-41 over his final two seasons.

Maguire replaces Kim Falkenhagen, who resigned last week after a 16-76 record — 0-38 in the Lone Star Conference — in three seasons.