Gomez resigns as Durango coach

Spencer Patterson

Friday, May 24, 2002 | 9:23 a.m.

After spending the last 35 years of his life playing and coaching on the baseball diamond, Durango High School's Mike Gomez is stepping away from the game he loves.

Gomez, head coach for the Trailblazers for their entire nine-year history, has resigned his coaching post, though he will remain at the school as a teacher. He leaves the program with nearly 250 victories, eight consecutive playoff trips and the 1999 4A state championship.

"My kids are becoming very active in youth sports, and I want to be there to support them and experience as much of their lives as I can," said Gomez, who has three children. "Right now, for the sake of supporting my wife and my kids, this is the best decision for me."

Gomez, 40, got his start in coaching at the age of 18. The Western High graduate served as head coach for the Warriors' American Legion squad before leaving town to play collegiately for Dixie College and Southern Utah.

Gomez spent eight years coaching at Eldorado -- the final seven as the Sundevils' head coach -- before Durango opened in 1993. He immediately built the Blazers into consistent winners, posting at least 25 wins in each of his final eight years.

"He's brought not only state recognition but national recognition to our program," Durango athletic administrator Reid Kimoto said. "He met all of the goals he had, and he's not only a great coach but a great person."

Gomez will perhaps be best remembered for the field he helped build at Durango -- a ballpark named the nation's best in 2000 by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association. Gomez was also selected as the association's 2000 Coach of the Year for District 7.

"Obviously, I have a lot of people to thank for bringing the field to the level it's at," Gomez said. "What we've accomplished has changed everybody's appreciation as far as fields. It raised the bar."

At the same time, however, the work required to maintain the field's high standard and complete its frequent improvements meant that in addition to his coaching duties, Gomez found himself spending countless hours doubling as groundskeeper.

"The field was the albatross. It was relentless year-round," he said. "As much as it meant to me, it's probably the number one reason I'm stepping back. Even though I wasn't coaching in the summer, I'd still go down to deal with the field.

"So as exhilarating as building that field was, eventually it was my demise as far as my time went."

During his years at Durango, Gomez coached numerous future professional and collegiate players, including outfielder Ryan Ludwick, now a top Rangers' prospect, Alan Webb, a pitcher in the Athletics' system and John DiBetta, an infielder in the Padres' system.

Pepperdine's Chris Kelly, LSU's Nate Bumstead and UNLV's Brent Johnson are among the current Division I standouts who played for Gomez.

"The relationships with all the coaches we've had and the kids are irreplaceable," Gomez said. "It's still great to see kids come back from college and stop by the field."

Gomez said he has not ruled out coaching in the future, but intends to take next year off before considering a return.

"I've been coaching for 22 straight years, playing since I started in T-ball at age five, so I don't know any better," Gomez said. "I don't know what life is like without a commitment to a team; it's uncharted waters for me.

"But I'm very much looking forward to stepping back and spending more time with my kids in their own athletic endeavors."