JT Keith
El Rito Media
jtkeith@elritomedia.com

With no fanfare and little public discussion ahead of the decision, Artesia High School football coach Jeremy Maupin has replaced Brian Taylor as Artesia’s athletic director.

Maupin and Artesia Public Schools Superintendent Darian Jaramillo confirmed the change, saying Maupin officially assumed the role of athletic director on June 2. Asked why the change was made, both declined comment, saying the school district does not discuss personnel matters.

Maupin will retain his position as head football coach.

Jaramillo had mentioned the change was coming during the “Good Morning Artesia” program on KSVP radio on May 21 but otherwise the key personnel move seemed to be a surprise. The school district’s website was still showing Taylor as athletic director and Maupin as athletic coordinator until this week.

Taylor declined to comment, other than to say he has been reassigned as assistant principal at Artesia Junior High School and “looks forward to serving the students and staff there.”

Taylor, 54, had been Artesia Public Schools’ athletic director since May 2023 when he was appointed by then-Superintendent Thad Phipps to succeed longtime AD Cooper Henderson following Henderson’s retirement.

During Taylor’s tenure, the Maupin-coached Artesia Bulldogs won their 32nd state football championship in 2023 and finished second in the state in 2024. This year, Artesia won state championships in baseball and boys basketball.

Maupin, 39, an Artesia High graduate who played quarterback on the Bulldogs’ state champion football team in 2004, was named head football coach in 2021. He had served as an assistant to legendary coach Cooper Henderson and also as head coach at Los Lunas High School.

jtkeith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X@JTKEITH1