By Allyson Joy
Photo Credit: Michael Mondragon
The City of Champions is never short of victories to celebrate, and events in the 2022-2023 school year only added to the list of wins for the Bulldogs. As summer draws to a close and the new school year is almost upon us, we have a few more wins to celebrate- three to be exact.
Every year the New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) awards honors to coaches around the state. Comprised of coaches from all sports and classifications, members of the NMHSCA vote for their fellow coaches, choosing a top recipient for various categories. For the 2022 season, the football Coach of the Year was awarded to our very own, Coach Jeremy Maupin.
Coach Maupin began his coaching career in 2012 in Artesia. In 2017, he accepted a head coaching position in Los Lunas as he continued to gain experience working with and training high school athletes. Four years later, he returned to Artesia as the head coach of the Bulldogs for the 2021 season, leading the team to the State Championship that year. And of course, we all remember the recent 2022 season as the Bulldogs clinched the record 31st state title. The football program’s success is partly attributed to the caliber of the coaching staff. When speaking of his coworkers, Coach Maupin said, “They are great. I am really blessed because a good staff is hard to find.” While there is an expectation of teamwork among the players, teamwork is first modeled by the coaches.
The second Bulldog to receive an award this year from the NMHSCA is Athletic Director and former long-time head football coach of the Bulldogs, Coach Cooper Henderson. Coach Henderson was named Athletic Director of the Year. Coach Maupin also credits the football program’s success in large part to Coach Henderson who paved the way, setting a standard of excellence for football. “Coach Henderson is at the helm. A Christian man who loved the kids, he was at every event and every game he could be. He was a coach, so he knew how to be supportive,” said Coach Maupin. Coach Henderson undoubtedly leaves a legacy in Bulldog athletics.
The awards did not end with football as Paul Kirkwood received The Assistant Coach of the Year for basketball. Coach Kirkwood was the head coach from 2000-2006. He then returned as the assistant coach in 2017, continuing to impact student-athletes with his character and coaching talents.
These Award-Winning Coaches were certainly well chosen. Their success was achieved alongside more amazing coaches, players, administrators, and community members. Artesia continues to be a supportive community in academics, extracurriculars, work, and life.
And once again we say with great pride, “It’s GREAT to be a Bulldog!”
