The Search Begins

NMJC head coach Drew Sanders argues with the referee over a call in the Lady T-Birds home game against Phoenix College, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019.

When New Mexico Junior College women's basketball coach Drew Sanders announced his retirement from coaching following 13 years with the Lady Thunderbirds, NMJC suddenly had a high-profile coaching position to fill. NMJC Athletic Director Deron Clark began interviews on Tuesday and is conducting interviews through Skype in the search for Sanders' replacement.

"We have received over 80 applications and they have been from coast to coast," Clark said. "We are just as enthusiastic to try to get the position filled as you are to write the story. We are diving into a group and hopefully we will come up with a quality selection for NMJC."

Clark continued that due to COVID-19 and social distancing mandates, there is no true timeline for when the new head coach will be hired. Interviews are being conducted through Skype, which Clark is not a big fan of, as he prefers meeting candidates in person.

"Unfortunately this virus creates a lot of problems," Clark said. "We are not able to bring anyone to campus and we have to do all of this through Skype. And because of that our timeline is a little bit up in the air. Ideally we would like to have someone nailed down by May 1st, but sooner if possible. But so many of those things are out of the Colleges control.

"Old fashion absolutely. I'm getting better at Skype but you can hardly beat a good handshake and a warm smile. Those are hard to replace on that computer."

The University of the Southwest is looking for four new head coaches for the next year, with two being fall semester sports. USW is looking for coaches in volleyball, softball, men and women track and field, and cross-country. Athletic Director Steve Appel said they have just begun the application process.

"We are currently speaking with all qualified applicants at this point," Appel said. "We are in the initial stages of interviewing candidates. They are all relatively new and we have received a dozen of each, track and field and cross-country we only have two applicants at this point."

Because social distancing, Appel has a tentative timetable in place to hire four new coaches and give them the chance to recruit.

"We would like to have the positions filled when we feel that we have the right fit," he said. "Of course we like them filled and be able to recruit from remote as much as I can. The desired start time for all will probably be June 1. With the COVID situation it puts things at a different feel and we want to make sure we have the right candidate in place before we move forward."

Appel added all his other coaches are returning for the fall semester and he is confidant in his sports programs.

"We are in good conditions right now as far as athletics programs," he said. "I am confidant in what we have and everyone is working to their best of what they can in this situation."