Saturday, March 29, 2008

Lady Eagle girls soccer coach won't be re-hired

Search for new coach under way

Jason W. Brooks News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jbrooks@news-bulletin.com

Belen The Belen Lady Eagle soccer team will be seeing its third new head coach in four seasons, as Belen Schools announced this week that Kathy Dockery will not be re-hired for the 2008-09 school year.

Dockery's teams went 11-28 in her two seasons as head coach. The Eagles went 5-15 in 2007-08, suffering injuries at many key positions before losing 11 of their last 13 games.

Belen Schools athletic coordinator Jim Danner said the district was acting on his recommendation that Dockery not be re-hired. When asked about the reasons for his decision, Danner said he could not comment on personnel matters.

Danner said the position will be advertised immediately, and it will be considered open until a replacement is hired.

Dockery and her predecessor, Michael Flores, both coached in a new era for Belen soccer, one in which the Eagles competed in perhaps the strongest district in the state.

The Eagles won just one District 5-4A game in 2005 under Flores, who stepped down after one season to pursue a business opportunity. Dockery served as the girls junior varsity coach in 2005 under Flores, who resigned in January 2006. She also coached the boys junior varsity team at BHS in 2002.

The Eagles went 75-27 and made state playoff appearances each season from 2000 to 2004 while competing in southern-based District 3-4A, not considered as tough as Albuquerque-based 5-4A. St. Pius and Albuquerque Academy, who regularly play in the 4A state title game, are a part of 5-4A.

Nettie Salas coached the Lady Eagle soccer team to four Class 4A state tournament appearances and three District 3-4A titles in her four years as head coach, 2001-2004. Under her guidance, the Lady Eagles were 63-21.

Dockery, a Rhode Island native, will retain her teaching position with Belen Schools. When reached by phone by the News-Bulletin, Dockery declined to comment.

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