Portales High volleyball coach stepping down

PORTALES — High school sports seem like a distant memory, and fall sports seem so far away given how the last month of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted schools and society as a whole.

But whenever volleyball does return to Portales High School, there will be a new face on the bench. Charity Gomez is stepping down from the position after four seasons.

Portales High Athletic Director Mark Gallegos said Gomez has accepted the volleyball coaching position at 5A Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho.

Gomez, elevated from an assistant position in 2016, went 44-39 as Rams coach. An attempt to contact Gomez Saturday was unsuccessful.

The Rams went 19-7 last year, falling to Hope Christian in the consolation bracket of the 4A tournament.

The next PHS coach will be just its fourth since 1975, following 26 seasons under Brenda Stockton and 15 under Ruth Chavez.

Gallegos said he is working on filling two head coaching positions — boys soccer the other one — and various assistant posts. He said he’d like to have a new coach in as soon as possible, given that the new person will likely also be filling a teaching position in the district.