Steven Contreras retires as Belen Consolidated Schools athletic coordinator, again

BELEN — For a second time in an eight-year span, Steven Contreras is retiring as Belen Consolidated Schools athletic coordinator. This time it may stick.

“I’m going to take care of some projects at home,” said Contreras. “Maybe do some traveling with my wife.”

His wife, Melissa, is also retiring but from Los Lunas Schools.

After 32 years in education, Contreras is ready to step away, taking fond memories with him.

“I was able to establish some positive work relationships,” Contreras said about his partnership with coaches, administrators, parents, custodians, security guards and many others. “All of those positive relationships have turned into friendships.”

Not that the job was stress free.

“Kind of self-induced stress, I guess,” Contreras said, referring to the pressure of doing a job well. “The job does take a toll on you a little bit. It’s very time-consuming and stressful at times. I think you just kind of know it’s time” to step away.

The 55-year-old Contreras spent plenty of hours at his desk, working on schedules, meeting with staff or planning events, but he could be seen at most Eagles athletic events on campus. He seemed to gravitate to certain spots, often perched on the railing at basketball games or peering over the fence at baseball or softball contests.

“I wanted to watch the games to see what our coaches are doing,” Contreras observed, while keeping “an eye on the bleachers, making sure there was good fan behavior going on.” Or be available if there was a question or concern.

It was time consuming, often contacted while at dinner or on vacation, but also rewarding.

“I’m from here, so I really have a passion for Belen athletics,” calling it a “dream job,” when he first took over the position in 2017. “I hope I represented our school, program and community with positivity and pride.”

Contreras says, with the help of coaches and administrators, the athletic department is in good shape, with no lingering issues. He will remember athletic successes that not only include state championships but programs that have bounced back from tough times.

“We wanted programs with discipline and we wanted to model winning the right way through hard work, commitment and dedication,” Contreras said.

As he prepares to depart in a few weeks, Contreras uses an old sports cliche that he hopes will define his years at BCS.

“I left it out on the field. I gave it my all.”

BCS confirmed Tuesday that Jim Collins has been hired to replace Contreras. The 63-year old Collins has been a high school coach and administrator in his native Michigan, Oregon and most recently in North Carolina.

Collins was a teammate of Lawrence Sanchez, BCS superintendent, on the New Mexico Highlands University football team. A profile of Collins will be in a future edition of the News-Bulletin.