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Thursday, July 03, 2008

Estancia's Athletic Director Retires

By Harold Smith
Mountain View Telegraph
      Often one just knows when it's time to go.
    Mike Draper retired from his position as Estancia High's athletic director on Monday. He was the school's AD and director of discipline for five years.
    “I came close to retiring last year,” Draper said. “Things changed in the school system. And there were changes with my wife's health.”
    That doesn't mean Draper and his wife, Elaine, will depart the area. They remain in their Moriarty home.
    “Right now, I'm taking it easy,” he said. “We've (he and his wife have) decided not to go to Texas now. It's the best thing for my wife. She's got a good support group of people here, and I'm not the best nurse, and she knows that. If we were to move to Texas that would be even further from the specialist we're going to see in Phoenix. It's best for us to stay here in Moriarty.”
    Sports has a knack for teaching lessons on life, its ups and downs. That was reinforced in real life during Draper's tenure at Estancia, which included a three-year stint as the Bears' football coach from 2003 through 2005.
    “One of the worst things I experienced in my career was the way Richard (Walker, the EHS football coach in 2006 and '07) was let go of the job,” he said. “But the most difficult thing was the situation with coach Nev (Grey Nevelos). It was hard for me to believe. I'm not trying to discount what the girls (his accusers) have said. We'll just have to wait and see what is decided in a court of law.”
    New Estancia football coach Dusty Giles was pursued for hire by Carolyn Allen-Renteria, the school district's superintendent, to replace Walker without Draper or Walker being advised of the superintendent's plan to relieve Walker of his football duties. Giles also replaced Draper.
    “I was left out of the loop completely,” Draper said. “But Richard is a company guy. He's a loyal guy. It's hard to find loyal people today. And he's a hard worker. I was disappointed at how it was handled.”
    Allen-Renteria did not return the phone calls over a span of three months requesting comment on the subject, and she failed to respond to a reporter's in-person entreaty for a return phone call after agreeing to do so in early May.
    Giles had been the football coach at Escalante, the campus for which is in Tierra Amarilla.
    “I got a call (on his cell phone) at Roosevelt Middle School during a district (basketball) game against East Mountain,” Draper said. “It must have been in February. It was Dusty Giles. He said, 'Tell me about the (football) job. I just applied for it.' I was surprised. I hadn't been told (that Allen-Renteria was looking to replace Walker). But I told him about the team (and the AD post). He (Walker) had three teams out there this year. He was good at getting the kids out. That's a real testament on how the kids respected and liked him.”
    Walker, who lost his home during the Trigo Fire, also did not return calls seeking comment. Draper noted that Walker has been offered positions outside of Estancia, but he would not comment on whether there was a possibility Walker would move.
    Others have already abandoned ship.
    Doreen Winn, the EHS principal, resigned and is now the principal at Fort Sumner High, and Winn's administrative assistant, Janice Barela, recently left her position, in which she was involved in nearly every aspect of Estancia's day-to-day affairs. Barela, a former Lady Bears volleyball coach, is now working for the deputy district attorney at the Seventh Judicial District Court.
    Mike Trujillo, the Bears' boys and girls basketball coach, also resigned. He's now the boys coach at Clayton, his prep alma mater.
    More than 20 district staff members have departed in the last few months and Allen-Renteria has directed her subordinates not to talk to reporters about the subject, a former employee who did not want to be identified said. Draper could not confirm the amount of departures but said about seven have retired.
    But, by far, the most difficult issue for Draper was Nevelos being charged with the sexual assault of four female students. Draper, who was Nevelos' assistant coach in boys and girls track and field, said he never witnessed any wrongdoing on Nevelos' part.
    “No, I didn't,” Draper said. “I respected Grey as a coach. What he did with them in athletics, with what little time he had with him (in conflict with the baseball and softball programs) was extraordinary. He was the (2006 state and sectional) coach of the year.”
    Draper, 57, coached in Las Cruces, Moriarty and Estancia — mostly in the high school ranks — during a 35-year career. But it might be a short-lived respite.
    “I would like to get back into teaching, coaching,” he said. “But I've had enough of administration.”
    Editor's Note: An additional story on Mike Draper, this one to emphasize the many positive aspects of the coach's long career, will appear in the July 10 issue of the Telegraph.
   

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