Belen Hires Football Coach

Breaking: Belen has hired their next Head Football Coach to follow John Lerma. Now former Mayfield Offensive Coordinator Greg Hennington has been hired to Coach the Eagles for the 2016 Football Season. Scroll down for the exclusive interview with Belen's new football coach.

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Great coaching is something Greg Hennington has always been around. His father the late Rex Hennington was a Principal, Athletic Director, and a Football Coach. Rex had stints at Clovis in the 60’s, Coached at Hobbs, led Las Cruces to a State Title going 13-0 in 1975, and was even a Defensive Coach for the New Mexico Aggies at one point.

“I grew up around football. My father and Jim Bradley Sr. were great friends and now getting my own opportunity to be a Head Coach is something I’ve been waiting for. My father before he passed away told me to go coach under Jim and Michael Bradley to learn how to be a coach and that’s what I did,” Said Hennington who recently turned 38-years old and has been the Offensive Coordinator at Mayfield for the last several seasons.

Hennington played for the Mayfield Trojans during the 1994, 1995, and 1996 season. The Trojans won back to back state titles in 1995 and in 1996, where Hennington was an All-State Running Back before heading off to play at New Mexico Highlands.

“When I came to Mayfield in 2007 to be an assistant coach I really learned a tremendous amount from Jim Bradley Sr. from an offensive perspective. Being with him and Michael was like attending a coaches clinic everyday.”

Since 2007 the Mayfield has won two state football championships and been runner up 4 times. All together Hennington has 4 state title rings as a player and coach and is eager to take on the challenge of coaching what he feels is a similar diverse set of kids at Belen.

“Valencia County to me has the similar type of athletes that we get at Mayfield. Blue Collar and Ranching type kids who understand what it means to work. I think they know how to prioritize, they care about football, and the community is really behind these athletes.”

John Lerma has a career record of 71-29 at Belen as Head Coach from 2009 to 2014 reaching the finals in 2009 and in 2014.

“I have not had a chance to talk to our kids here at Mayfield just yet and that will be one of the harder things I have to do as I get easily attached to these athletes. However, I am super excited and understand that being a head coach is not easy, but I have been in a good situation here at Mayfield which has prepped me for this position. Working with the administration at Belen High School has been great and working with Athletic Director Jim Danner has been very professional.”

Hennington plans to arrive at Belen High School by February 20th. “I am beyond grateful to the Mayfield Football Staff and Community and even more grateful to Belen for giving me this chance.”

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