“Noticer” hired to lead Belen Consolidated Schools athletics

BELEN — A quick walk around the gymnasium at Belen High School may have given an early hint into the approach Jim Collins will bring as athletic coordinator for Belen Consolidated Schools.

“We’re going to take care of that,” Collins said on Tuesday last week, pointing at a small section at the base of the wall on the south end of the arena that had peeled off.

Collins, who was hired earlier Tuesday to take over for retiring Steven Contreras, describes himself as a “noticer,” as in “If I notice things, I like to get them fixed.”

This is probably not a traditional hire for a school district in New Mexico. Collins, 63, is a native of Michigan, having spent 24 years in the Wolverine state as a school administrator and coach.

Currently, Collins and his wife, Christi, reside in North Carolina, where he most recently coached high school football and softball. He has also led baseball and strength programs at various places over the years.

While Collins has lived from coast to coast, including Oregon, this new job won’t be the first time he has called New Mexico home. It also won’t be Collins’ first partnership with his new boss, Lawrence Sanchez, BCS’ superintendent.

Both Sanchez and Collins were teammates on the New Mexico Highlands University football team 45 years ago and stayed in touch during the interim.

“I watched his career. He watched mine,“ Collins said, adding, “Lawrence was a great teammate. He’s had a great career in education.”

At one point, Collins said he told Christi, “I’d like to work for that guy.”

Now he will, thanks to excellent timing. Collins and Christi, who have three adult children, were considering relocating to the Southwest when they learned the Belen athletics coordinator position was opening.

“We were very impressed with the quality of applicants that we got both within house and outside the district,” said Sanchez, who said there were seven finalists interviewed by the selection committee. “It wasn’t an easy decision. We decided to go with coach Collins because he brings a mix of experience and excitement.”

From Collins’ perspective, the interview process was enlightening.

“I was very impressed with some of the things they asked,” said Collins, who followed up with questions of his own. “I wanted to feel comfortable coming out here because it’s 1,700 miles from where I live now.”

Sanchez believes Collins will continue an “upward trend” for BHS athletics established by Contreras.

“He wants to spend his final years in New Mexico,” Sanchez believes. “He did his homework and research into Belen and is excited about what Belen has to offer.”

While not giving specifics, some things “need to be tightened up,” is what Collins was told by the search committee.

“I’m just going to kind of keep an open mind and look at things,” Collins said. “I’m not going to go in there guns a blazing. We’re all part of a team.”

Collins believes with his background he can contribute to the revival of the Eagles football program.

“I want our numbers to come up in football,” he said. “I think that’s important.”

The football stadium and gymnasium get a quick thumbs up, with all facilities on the BHS campus under a watchful eye.

“One of my mottos as a coach is we will always leave the dugout cleaner than it was when we got there. That’s kind of how I operate.”

There are other expectations, including for student/athletes.

“I want the kids to have a great time playing athletics here,” Collins emphasized. However, he said players need to remember “they represent not only themselves but their mom and dad, the school and teams. Most importantly they represent themselves.”

The contract for Collins begins July 1, but if he gets settled earlier, Sanchez says he will get a secondary contract to start immediately.

“I want everyone to be on an equal playing field, whether you’re a girl or boy,” Collins said. “When you play for Belen, you’re going to be supported by the administration and the school, no matter what sport you play.”