Shepherd, Russell resign MHS coach jobs

Shepherd, Russell resign MHS coach jobs

November 22, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

As expected, Mancos High School head football coach Gordon Shepherd and assistant football coach Larry Russell resigned their positions on Nov. 10. The RE-6 Board of Education is expected to accept the resignation letters when it meets for its November meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, in the district offices.

Shepherd took the job on a one-year contract in an emergency situation late last summer when no head coaching candidate was found to guide the program after Terry Newlin resigned after a seven-year stint at the end of the 2000 season.

He guided the team to a 3-6 overall record but a disappointing 0-4 mark in Class A San Juan Basin League play. Shepherd will continue as assistant varsity boys basketball coach at MHS. Both he and Russell are teachers at Montezuma-Cortez High School.

Shepherd, in his letter of resignation, thanked the MHS administration and the RE-6 Board of Education for allowing him the opportunity to serve the student-athletes and for the support he and his staff received during the season.

"I feel that our coaching staff has accomplished much in setting Mancos football back on the path toward being a competitive and respectable program representing our community," he wrote. "The varsity team had the opportunity to win each game they played and our J.V. team went undefeated for the first time in a very long time. We received compliments from every opponent we faced concerning the improvement of our players from previous years."

Shepherd reiterated the fact that when he accepted the position it was to coach for only one season as no teaching position was yet available following the resignation of Newlin in November, 2000.

"However, many important aspects of this program are best served only by a coaching working in the building along with the student-athletes for whom he is responsible. Additionally, numerous other decisions needing to be made in the course of a school day pertaining to the football program are also handled better with an on-campus coach. So, it is for these reasons that I feel compelled to step aside and make this position available for posting as soon as possible," Shepherd wrote.

Russell, in his letter of resignation, wrote he wanted to thank the board and administration for allowing him to work with the Mancos youth.

"However, I would encourage the board and administration to either support the football program by getting the coaching lined out or else just drop the MHS football program in its entirety.

"If we cannot find qualified teachers to coach the sport, then please render this decision before May 1 so that students who want to play the game can get realigned with either Cortez, Durango, or Dolores programs.

"I very much understand the position the administration and the board is in, but I am a concerned parent and I want my son (Kent) to be able to make a commitment late this spring that will five his athletic life some direction. No, I don’t want my son playing anywhere but Mancos. Unfortunately, your previous indecisiveness has not helped school or community stability and has not helped Mancos kids. Please get off the fence, it is rubbing all of us raw," he wrote.