Muleshoe tabs Portales native Walker as new football coach

MULESHOE — After more than 20 years, the Muleshoe Mules will have a new head football coach.

But Lee Walker inherits a much different program than predecessor David Wood. The longtime defensive coordinator for Plainview High School was hired Monday to become the new coach and transition into the athletic director role.

In both roles Walker will replace David Wood, who announced his retirement in November. Wood, who went 184-79, took over a lowly Mule program in 1996 that went 0-10 the year before and had only 24 players in the program with no sub-varsity teams.

Walker, 49, is a 1986 graduate of Portales High School and a 1991 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University. He's been married to his wife Sonia, whom he met at PHS, for 27 years.

Walker was selected from a field of more than 90 applicants before meeting with staff and players immediately following the Muleshoe board of trustees meeting. He takes over a program that is a consistent playoff participant and is now 10 seasons removed from its 2008 Class 2A state title.

Walker said he does plan to bring a few different folds to his program, but he's not worried about anything close to an overhaul.

"Any time there's a change of a head coach, there's going to be some change," Walker said. "It doesn't mean what was going on was wrong or what comes in is going to be better. It's just change. Honestly, there's a lot of things going on there that are good."

Walker has 26 years of coaching experience at Midland, Hereford and Plainview. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach for Bobby Crane on Portales' 1988 Class 3A title winner.

"All you have to do is look at his resume and see that he has been in some great programs," Wood said in the release. "Coach Walker brings a lot to the plate and I feel like the kids will jump head first with him."

The Bulldog program has only posted one winning season since 2007, but has gone 18-25 the last four seasons with three playoff appearances, including reaching the Class 5A Division II bi-district round last season.

"Coach Walker is an excellent technical football coach in regard to drill and scheme but an even better man" Plainview football coach and athletic director Ryan Rhoades said. "He has been associated with both established programs and programs which needed to be reestablished and excelled in both roles. He has been both a tireless worker and loyal friend in all the years I have been blessed to work with him."

The release, penned by Superintendent R.L. Richards, noted that what set Walker apart was his ability to organize and keep the athletic program as a whole on course.

The combined salary for the positions is $88,000 annually, Richards said.