PHS tabs Hobbs assistant new football coach

The Portales Rams have a new football coach in place, and now the school is looking for a boys basketball coach.

Jaime Ramirez, a Hobbs High assistant for the past four years, was hired this week to replace Mark McAfee, who resigned as football coach and athletic director earlier this month to go into private business.

Meantime, veteran basketball coach Mark Gallegos was named the school's AD on Monday on a fulltime basis. Gallegos, who spent 14 seasons as the Rams' head coach, said the basketball position was opened to applicants at that time.

Ramirez, 41, was chosen from nine applicants for the football position.

He spent 11 years on the staff at Loving, the last seven (2001-07) as the school's head football coach. The Falcons went 11-1 and lost to district rival Jal in the Class 1A state final in 1999, and reached the 1A finals again in 2003 where they were beaten by Texico.

Ramirez, who is Hobbs' strength and conditioning coach this year, said he was looking to find a head coaching position.

"Traditionally, Portales has been a strong football town," he said. "I know they have a real close-knit program, and I always felt it was a good place to bring up a family."

Ramirez and wife Kelli have two daughters, Kailee and Kiersten, who are in the freshman and eighth grade, and a neice, Summer Martinez, who is a junior this year and has lived with them for some time. All are involved in athletics.

Melvin Nusser, PHS principal, said he thinks Ramirez, a Carlsbad High graduate, should make a smooth transition.

"We feel like coach Ramirez is a perfect fit for what we need," Nusser said. "He has (coaching) experience on both the offensive and defensive sides of football.

"More important than that, he can help his players become good young men."

Nusser said the basketball position will probably be open another couple of weeks before the school begins interviews.

Gallegos said he expects Rams junior varsity coach Rick McBroom and freshman coach Wade Fraze to be among the applicants.