Belen’s Sanchez, Tiger Cieremans leave coaching ranks

Two successful Valencia County high school coaches are moving from the coaching ranks to administration.

Los Lunas baseball head coach and football assistant Paul Cieremans will give up his positions after being named an assistant principal at LLHS.

Nick Sanchez has departed the Belen wrestling program to take over a new post just created at Los Lunas Schools.

“I’m looking for a change,” said Cieremans, who spent the last five years as the Tigers’ head baseball coach and before that 16 years leading the LLHS softball team.

Cieremans has held an administrative license for almost 15 years, and with retirement getting closer, “It just made sense” financially to make the switch.

Even with a different role, Cieremans plans to “be in the ear of the athletic director,” and be “an advocate for all students, not just for the athletes.”

That doesn’t mean Cieremans won’t miss being in the dugout and the ties he’s built with the athletic community.

“I’ve made a lot of great relationships with kids and coaches and families, but I’m ready for a new challenge,” he said.

Sanchez, who spent three years as BHS head wrestling coach and took the Eagles to the 4A State Championship in 2023, has been hired as athletic/activities manager for LLHS and Los Lunas Middle School, a new position.

Sanchez did not respond to a request for comment about leaving the Eagles.

Brett Schram is the new athletic/activities manager for the Valencia cluster. The News-Bulletin will have details in the next edition about the responsibilities off the athletic/activities managers.

As summer continues, wrestling is the only head coaching vacancy at BHS. However, Los Lunas Schools is looking to fill as many as 13 positions.

LLHS is advertising both the girls and boys track coaching jobs, previously filled by Celeste Tafoya and Joseph Baca, respectively.

Bill Hays, LLS interim athletic coordinator, said that he will be looking for proper “alignment” for the track program, and that one or two head coaches could be hired.

“Out of respect for personnel matters, I am unable to comment further on specific individuals or contract decisions,” Hays said.

The school district is also seeking a head baseball coach for Valencia, where Carlos Ramirez resigned at the end of May.

LLS continues to look for a VHS head dance coach, which has been vacant for several years. In addition to coaching positions at the high school level, there are many middle school openings.

Los Lunas

Baseball head coach

Track head coach (1 or 2)

Wrestling assistant

Volleyball assistant

Football assistant

Valencia

Baseball head coach

Dance head coach

Wrestling assistant

Girls basketball assistant

Boys basketball assistant

Volleyball assistant

Football assistant

Belen

Wrestling head coach