Mike Powers | News-Bulletin photo
Valencia High School head football coach Wesley Shank steps down.
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Wesley Shank has resigned as head football coach at Valencia High School after five years. Shank told the News-Bulletin he decided last summer this would be his last season.
“The last two years have been rough,” said Shank, who took over the VHS program in 2018 after coming over from Miyamura in Gallup. “I don’t get the same enjoyment. I don’t know whether I’ve changed or the kids have changed.”
Shank added he is dealing with some physical problems, including arthritis, which made coaching more challenging.
The Jaguars finished the season with a 4-7 record after losing in the first round of the state playoffs to Aztec. VHS lost several games in the final seconds in heartbreaking fashion.
The Jaguars were also in the playoffs in 2021, reaching the quarterfinals.
Los Lunas Schools director of athletics Wilson Holland said Shank “is a tremendous individual.” He added that Shank “will truly be missed. He did a great job with the kids. We think very highly of him.”
Holland said the head football coach position was posted this week and the search to find “the best fit” will begin in earnest in the second semester.
Mike Powers spent more than 40 years as a television news and sports anchor, mostly in the Albuquerque market. He has won numerous awards including New Mexico Sportscaster of the Year. He covers a wide range of sports, including the Valencia County prep scene.
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April 18, 2024
