BHS Cross Country: Duarte announces retirement

FRESNO • All the seniors are graduating.

All nine of them — runners and coaches included.

Barstow cross country coach Jim Duarte, 60, announced he was done coaching cross country after accepting the CIF Division III trophy on Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno. It was a move that was rumored throughout the cross country community but held tightly by Duarte. Even his wife Debbie said she had no idea it was coming.

After collecting the Aztecs’ sixth CIF title, Duarte introduced assistant coach Keith Shipman and his runners, making a point to emphasize their senior class rank. Then, Duarte paused for what seemed an entirety. The words eventually came out.

“This is tough,” Duarte said. “Some people kind of know it already. This is my last year up here.”

The audience in the awards tent applauded Duarte after the announcement.

The Aztecs’ seven seniors won’t be back to the CIF Championships and neither will Duarte, who will continue to teach at Barstow High School.

The Barstow coach said he was trying to avoid “crying like a baby” during the ceremony.

The announcement came as a shock to many. The runners’ parents said they couldn’t argue with Duarte going out on top after 15 seasons of coaching. Shipman was in the dark about Duarte’s decision but announced on the spot he’d be joining Duarte in cross country retirement.

“We’re seniors, all nine of us,” Shipman said.

Sultana coach John Mahr didn’t know Duarte was even close to retirement.

“I wasn’t expecting to hear that,” Mahr said. “He’s definitely done an awful lot.”
Mahr called Duarte an “intelligent, hard-working gentleman” and said he helped raise the level of cross country in the High Desert with his competitive but classy style.

“His groups have definitely helped the High Desert come into prominence,” Mahr said.

Duarte stepped down as boys track coach after the spring season but said the move to end his illustrious run as cross country coach was something he began contemplating three years ago. He said he’s ready to devote more time to Debbie, his children, grandchildren and teaching.

So what does a man who seemingly spends every waking moment thinking about cross country and sleeps just a handful of hours a night do with so much free time?

Well, at first it won’t be much different. Duarte will continue working out his group of seniors until they graduate in order to prepare them for track season and possibly running in college.

Duarte said he plans to travel and perhaps pursue his master’s degree. He said he’s open to teaching coaching clinics and possibly revealing some of his tightly held coaching secrets. Debbie joked she might actually get to use the computer now that her husband won’t be putting together cross country stat sheets.

Whoever replaces Duarte will be tasked with rebuilding almost the entire program. With seven seniors graduating, the Aztecs will still have strong runners next year but will likely lack the depth that has propelled the program to six CIF titles in eight years.

“It’s been fun — a lot of fun,” Duarte said. “I really love this.”