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Longtime CMS employee Baca elevated to AD post

CLOVIS — Lonnie Baca was the dark horse of dark horse candidates for the Clovis High athletic director position. In fact, he was initially mentioned only as a finalist for the boys’ basketball coaching job.

But Baca applied for both, and his enthusiasm and track record took care of the rest.

The 19-year veteran of Clovis Municipal Schools was named to the position Thursday morning.

Baca, most recently an assistant under former Clovis boys basketball coach Scott Robinson, was selected from a field of four.

“I’ve enjoyed working for the people I worked for,” Baca said. “I’ve had great administrators who have been tremendously supportive. This is a good community, we have good kids. I just finished my 32nd year coaching, and I was ready to come back and do that again until this position came up.”

Baca’s resume includes athletic director service at Jemez Valley, head coaching positions in cross country, basketball and track at Tucumcari and assistant posts in football, track and basketball at Clovis — where he’s been since 1999.

It’s not his first time applying for the Clovis AD position, as he was a finalist in 2005 when the district hired Brian Stacy.

Other applicants were Keith Durham, CHS girls track coach and former Texico athletic director; Loran Hill, Yucca Middle School principal, and Robert Mata, athletic director for Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools.

The interviews were done by Superintendent Jody Balch and his administrative cabinet — Carrie Bunce, Kerry Parker, Shawna Russell and Joe Strickland — plus CHS Principal Jay Brady and volleyball coach Ruth Chavez.

“His passion for our programs and our kids really showed in our interview,” Balch said. “He’s very smart, and has some great ideas about what to do for all programs. He has a track record with the district that’s kind of gone unnoticed that’s very successful. He’s humble, takes care of his business and takes care of it well.”

His duties officially begin May 25, the final day of Interim AD Dale Fullerton’s service. Fullerton succeeded Darren Kelley, who retired in January.

“There are going to be a lot of challenges, but there are good things,” Baca said. “Budget is always a concern, making sure we have the money to back up our programs. One of my concerns is the ability of coaches. I’d also applied for the boys head basketball position, and I wondered why there were only five applicants for a position in Class 6A. That’s a problem across the state. Recruiting a good staff and keeping them is a challenge.”

Every program is different, but Baca said the goals are pretty universal: Enlist community support, give the community a program worth supporting and establish the path for future CHS athletes.

“A lot of the time I’ve spent coaching has helped me to see what needs to happen in an athletic program,” Baca said. “Also, having coached at different levels (helps me understand) what it takes to build a feeder program. Getting those kids in the elementary programs involved so we’re building Wildcats. That’s one of the things I’m going to challenge our coaches to do; how can they make that connection to the kids so they can be something great when they get to Clovis High School.”