Time is short in finding a new head boys basketball coach at Taos High School.

With the first day of practice just five days away, Taos Municipal Schools set today as the deadline to accept applications for the position, which opened on Oct. 17 when Rick Apodaca was fired after four seasons. Neither the school district nor Apodaca has elaborated on the reason for the dismissal.

Taos superintendent Rose Martinez said three people have applied for the position, and said she has heard from five other potential candidates. Martinez declined to identify the applicants. The search committee is scheduled to conduct interviews on Friday.

The committee comprises Taos High principal Hector Cavazos, three students, three parents, three community members, two coaches and a teacher.

Martinez said the initial deadline for applications was on Oct. 26 and it drew two applicants, but one of them dropped out when informed that a teaching position was not available. The position was reopened and two more applicants emerged. None are interested in teaching, Martinez said.

"Right now, we're waiting," Martinez said. "I thought we'd have more applications. It was close to Nov. 5, but we only had one applicant and when we hire people, we try to have more than one applicant."

As for Apodaca, he has filed an appeal with the Taos school board regarding his firing as coach and a special education teacher, and said on Wednesday he is still waiting for the board to respond.

His attorney, Alan Maestas, sent a letter to the board last week requesting the process be expedited.

The hearing must take place no less than 20 days, and no more than 40 days after termination, in accordance with state statutes.

Contact James Barron at 986-3045
or jbarron@sfnewmexican.com