University launches national search for Vice President and Director of Athletics
The University of New Mexico has launched a national search for its next vice president and director of athletics, university officials announced today, as the Lobos look to build on recent competitive and academic momentum across their athletic programs.
The search comes after a year of notable success for UNM Athletics, highlighted by a highly successful football season, strong performances by the men’s and women’s basketball teams, an outstanding campaign in cross country, and continued academic progress across Lobo programs. University leaders say those results point to a positive trajectory for the department at a time of significant change in collegiate athletics.
“UNM Athletics is experiencing positive momentum across our programs,” UNM President Garnett S. Stokes said in a statement. “This search is an opportunity to identify a leader who understands today’s collegiate athletics environment and can build on that progress with integrity, accountability, and a clear focus on student-athlete success.”
The university has retained Parker Executive Search, a national firm that specializes in higher education and athletics leadership placements, to assist with the process. Parker will oversee recruitment efforts, help develop a pool of candidates and work with the university’s search committee throughout the evaluation process. A dedicated search website has been launched to provide information about the position, the timeline and updates as the search moves forward.
The vice president and director of athletics will oversee all NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic programs at UNM and will be responsible for setting the department’s overall strategic direction. Key duties include aligning athletics with the university’s broader mission and strategic goals, managing financial operations and fundraising, ensuring compliance with NCAA and Mountain West Conference regulations, and fostering relationships with alumni, donors and the wider community.
University officials said the role also carries responsibility for competitive excellence, student-athlete academic success and well-being, fiscal stewardship, compliance and cultivating a culture that reflects UNM’s mission and values.
More details are available here: https://executivesearch.unm.edu/vice-president-and-director-of-athletics/index.html
As part of the search process, Parker Executive Search has already met with a wide range of UNM stakeholders, including university leaders, faculty, students and community members, through both virtual and in-person sessions. Additional opportunities for input will be offered as the recruitment phase continues, officials said.
The search committee is chaired by Del Archuleta, a longtime and respected community leader. The committee includes representatives from across the university and alumni base and is charged with reviewing applications, conducting interviews and ultimately advancing a recommendation to Stokes for her consideration. Nominations, recommendations and feedback on the position are being accepted directly by Parker Executive Search.
UNM Athletics brings a history of competitive achievement to the search. The Lobos have made 53 NCAA tournament appearances, won 22 Mountain West Conference titles and produced 1,517 student-athletes who have earned Mountain West All-Academic honors.
The next athletics director will be expected to build on that foundation while addressing several significant challenges facing the department. Those include enhancing competitiveness in key programs, advancing long-term plans for the renovation of University Stadium, navigating ongoing conference realignment and stability issues, and managing emerging financial commitments tied to the evolving landscape of student-athlete support.
College athletics nationally continues to undergo rapid transformation, with changes related to name, image and likeness opportunities, revenue sharing discussions and increasing financial pressures on athletic departments. University leaders said the next vice president and director of athletics must be prepared to lead through that environment while keeping student-athletes at the center of decision-making.
A timeline for hiring has not been publicly announced, but officials said the university aims to move expeditiously while conducting a thorough national search.