New Mexico Lobos

The New Mexico Lobos are the athletic teams that represent the University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque. The university participates in the NCAA Division I in the Mountain West Conference (MW). The university's athletic program fields teams in 20 varsity sports. The only varsity teams that do not compete in the MW are in sports that the conference does not sponsor—men's soccer, which plays in Conference USA (C-USA);[4] and skiing, which competes in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA). Both teams, however, will be cut to save money after the 2018 season.

New Mexico Lobos
UniversityUniversity of New Mexico
ConferenceMountain West
NCAADivision I
Athletic directorEddie Nunez
LocationAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Varsity teams20
Football stadiumDreamstyle Stadium
Basketball arenaThe Pit
Baseball stadiumSanta Ana Star Field
Softball stadiumLobo Softball Field
Soccer stadiumAlbuquerque Convention Center
Great Friends of UNM Track Stadium/UNM Soccer Complex[1][2]
Other arenasJohnson Gymnasium
MascotLobo Louie and Lobo Lucy
NicknameLobo
Fight songHail, New Mexico
ColorsCherry and Silver[3]
         
Websitewww.golobos.com

UNM teams have won three national championships. The women's cross-country won the NCAA championship in 2015 and 2017 and the Division I Skiing championship in 2004. The men's soccer team was National Runner-up in Division I Soccer losing in overtime to the University of Maryland in 2005 as the No. 2 seed, the highest ranking for a UNM soccer team in school history.

History

The Lobos name began in 1920. A UNM Weekly student newspaper editor, George S. Bryan, came up with the teams' name, the "Lobos", which is the Spanish word for wolf. Previously the University's teams were referred to as the "University Boys" or "Varsities".[5]

School colors

In the early years of the university, the school colors were black and gold. Tradition holds that in the 1890s, a faculty member suggested the school adopt colors more representative of New Mexico. Crimson and silver were initially suggested based on, respectively, the crimson evening glow of the Sandia Mountains and the description of the Rio Grande as a "silver ribbon winding through the valley" as seen by students and professors taking picnics in the Sandias. Crimson was later changed to the cherry color which is the color of the Sandia sunset. Cherry and Silver became the official colors in 1897. The school also used turquoise as an official color from 1973 to 1979.[6]

The fight song

In 1930, the UNM fight song was created. Dean Lena Clauve, a music education professor, wrote the music. Dr. George St. Clair, an English professor, wrote the lyrics.[7]

Mascot

The University mascots are anthropomorphized wolves or "Lobos" named Louie and Lucy, they appear at every sporting and social event.[8] Lobo Louie was created in the early 1960s and Lobo Lucy was created in the early 1980s.[9]

For a brief period in the 1920s, a live wolf pup appeared at every football game. Jim Young, a government trapper, caught a wolf in the western part of the state.[10] A child teased the wolf at a game and was bitten, which forced officials of the school to get rid of the wolf.[9]

Sports sponsored
Men's sports Women's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballBeach volleyball
Cross countryCross country
FootballGolf
GolfSoccer
SoccerSoftball
TennisSwimming and diving
Track and field†Tennis
Track and field†
Volleyball
Co-ed sports
Skiing
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor
New Mexico is a member of the Mountain West Conference

The University of New Mexico sponsors teams in nine men's and 11 women's NCAA sanctioned sports, primarily competing in the Mountain West Conference, with men's soccer a member of Conference USA.

Baseball
Main article: New Mexico Lobos baseball

Current Head Coach: Ray Birmingham

The 1906 baseball team

Pitching Coach: Ken Jacome

Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith

Volunteer Assistant Coach: Tony Cappuccilli [11]

The Lobo baseball program began in 1899.[12] Its current head coach is Ray Birmingham.

In recent years the Lobo Baseball Program has seen much success, the team competed in the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament. Prior to 2010 the Lobos hadn't made an appearance in the tournament since 1962. In 2012 the Lobos captured both the Mountain West Regular Season and Conference Tournament titles. The Lobos have not made a College World Series appearance in its program's history.

UNM's baseball team plays at Santa Ana Star Field on the university's campus. They averaged 1,294 fans for the 2011 season and ranked 43rd in the NCAA per game.[13]

Men's basketball
Main article: New Mexico Lobos men's basketball

Current Head Coach: Paul Weir

Associate Head Coach: Chris Harriman

Assistant Coach: Jerome Robinson

Assistant Coach: Brandon Mason [11]

The first men's basketball team (1903)

The Lobo basketball programs were established in 1899, but began its first competitive teams in 1903 and 1906, respectively. In 1920 a head coach would be hired, Roy W. Johnson. The current head coach is Paul Weir (basketball).

Both men's and women's teams play in The Pit, formally known as Dreamstyle Arena, built in 1966. The Pit seats 15,411 spectators and ranks nationally in attendance for both men's and women's programs. Previously the Lobos played in Johnson Gymnasium and Carlisle Gymnasium, which both still exist on the main campus.

The Lobo men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times and have reached the second round seven times. UNM's most successful coaches in terms of wins are Dave Bliss, Bob King, Roy Johnson, and Steve Alford.

Women's basketball
Main article: New Mexico Lobos women's basketball
Current Head Coach: Mike Bradbury
Assistant Coach: Valerie King
Assistant Coach: Erin Grant
Assistant Coach: Bill Ferrara [11]

The Lobo women's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament 8 times. Former head coach Don Flanagan (1999–2011) is the most successful coach in terms of wins.

Men's and women's cross country
Main article: New Mexico Lobos women's cross country

Current Head Coach: Joe Franklin

Assistant Coach: James Butler

Assistant Coach: Dr. Richard Ceronie

Assistant Coach: Laura Bowerman [11]

The women's cross-country team at the University of New Mexico, known as the New Mexico Lobos, won the NCAA championship in 2015. In 2015, head coach Joe Franklin was named NCAA women's coach of the year for the NCAA Mountain Region and the NCAA nationally.

In 2017, UNM won the women's national team title, and Lobo Ednah Kurgat won the individual title. The Lobo women were second place nationally in 2018.

New Mexico women's XC

National
Champions

2017
National
Champions

2015

Football
Main article: New Mexico Lobos football
Current Head Coach: Danny Gonzales
Assistant Coaches:
  • Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers: TBA
  • Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers: Kevin Cosgrove
  • Specials Teams Coordinator/QBs: Apollo Wright
  • Offensive Line: Saga Tuitele
  • Running Backs: Scott Baumgartner
  • Tight Ends: Clay Davie
  • Defensive Line: Stan Eggen
  • Safeties: Jordan Peterson
  • Corners: TBA [11]
The first football team (1894)

The Lobo football program began in 1892, but compiled its first competitive team in 1894.[14]

The Lobos were previously coached by Mike Locksley. He was fired in late 2011 after a dismal 2–26 coaching record in 2 1/2 years at New Mexico. Locksley took the place of Rocky Long (1998–2008) who was the winningest coach in the school's history.[8]

The Lobo football program has appeared in 12 bowl games since 1939. The Lobos have captured four wins in bowl games, including the 1946 Sun Bowl, the 1961 Aviation Bowl, and the 2007 and 2016 New Mexico Bowl.

UNM usually plays two large rivalry games each year with non-conference opponents, the Arizona Wildcats and the New Mexico State Aggies.[8] The Rivalry with the Aggies is referred to as the "Rio Grande Rivalry", the rivalry first began in 1894. The Lobos have led the series since the 1940s; it stands at 66–31–5 in favor of the Lobos. The Rivalry with the Wildcats is referred to as the "Kit Carson Rifle"; the rivalry began in the early 1920s. The Wildcats of Arizona have led the series. The last meeting with the teams was in 2008. The Lobos defeated the Wildcats 36–28.[15]

Coach Davie has been coaching for 26 years. He started out as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 1977. Davie has coached at more than five different schools. He took a break for a period of time and went into broadcasting for ESPN. While being at the University of New Mexico coach Davie has broken multiple school records.

For the last two years the Lobo's have lost to the Aggies by less than five points. In the 2015-2016 season the Lobo football team ended with a record of 9-4 while losing only one game at home. The ended up going to the New Mexico Bowl and won their fourth bowl game win. In the 2016-2017 the Lobos record went from 9-4 to 3-9. It was the first time in 2 years that they didn't make a bowl game. After the season ended, they ended up losing two coaches. One was the Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receiver coach and the other was the Corners coach. The Lobos will return a lot of key players from the offense one being Jay Griffin IV. Jay Griffin IV will be a redshirt sophomore for this upcoming season. He is from Huntsville, Texas and went to Huntsville High School. At Huntsville, he played Varsity football for two years and also ran track. He accomplished many things in both football and track. In football, he won 1st team All District honors both years he played Varsity while in track won District twice in the 200 meters. In the 2017 season he had a total of 393 receiving yards on only 29 receptions. He also had five receiving touchdowns. Griffin also had 116 rushing yards on 13 carries. He ended up with one rushing touchdown.[16] Jay Griffin will be returning to the Lobos for his 2nd season in 2018. In 2012 he started the best rebuilding jobs in school history ever in the spot. For the last two seasons the Lobos record is 16-10 which ties an all time school record for most wins in a back to back season.

Men's golf

Current Head Coach: Glen Millican

Assistant Coach: Gustavo Morantes

Volunteer Coach: Sean Carlon

Dir of Player Personnel: Wright Zimmerly [11]

The men's golf team has won 24 conference championships:[17]

Many Lobo golfers have gone on to play and win on the PGA Tour including: Tommy Armour III (four wins), Charlie Beljan (one), Brad Bryant (one), Curt Byrum (one), Tom Byrum (one), and Tim Herron (four).

Women's golf

Current Head Coach: Jill Trujillo

Associate Head Coach: Britney Choy [11]

Skiing
Current Head Coach (Both Men's and Women's team): Fredrik Landstedt
Head Alpine Coach: Joe Downing
Assistant Alpine Coach: Carl-Johan Oster
Assistant Nordic Coach: Aljaz Praznik [11]

The New Mexico Lobo skiing team, a fully coeducational team, is one of only two Lobos teams that do not compete in the MW. It competes in the single-sport Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association alongside several Division I and Division II schools in the West. The team carries a rich tradition; it captured the school's first national title in 2004.[18] The team was briefly eliminated in the spring of 2017. The team is being permanently eliminated in 2019. [19]

New Mexico skiing

National
Runner up

1992
National
Champions

2004
National
Runner up

2006

Men's soccer
Main article: New Mexico Lobos men's soccer
Current Head Coach: Jeremy Fishbein
Associate Head Coach: Mike Graczyk
Assistant Coach: Kelly Altman
Assistant Coach: Lucas Champenois [11]

Women's soccer
Current Head Coach: Heather Dyche
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator: Karley Nelson
Assistant Coach: Paul Maestas
Goalkeeper Coach: Travis Masterson [11]

Softball

Head Softball Coach: Paula Congleton

Assistant Coach: Tyler Heil

Assistant Coach: Megan Betsa [11]

The Lobos softball team has appeared in two Women's College World Series in 1980 and 1981.[20]

Men's and women's track and field

Current Head Coach: Joe Franklin

Assistant/sprints Coach: Jade Ellis

Assistant/long distance Coach: Dr. Richard Ceronie

Last season the roster included a football player named Jay Griffin. He competed in the 60 meter and also the 200 meter. Placing 27th in 60 meter, and 22nd in the 200 meter. He had a very short season after going through a hamstring injury during one of his races. In this upcoming season, there will be another football player joining him named Willie Hobdy. Hobdy will be doing the triple jump and long jump while Jay Griffin will continue with his same events from last year.[21]

Joe Franklin is quoted as saying "We have to keep it fun" [22] Coach Franklin was at Purdue from 1986-1991. This upcoming year will be coach Franklin's ninth year as the Track and Field's head coach.[23]

In 2013-2014 coach Franklin lead the both men's and women's team to consecutive titles. During that time the Lobo's had the 2nd-longest streak of conferences titles and the fourth longest streak in Division 1 history. The Lobo's also had nine All Americans that year with 57 total All Mountain West honorees.

In 2014-2015 the men's and women's teams won a consecutive Mountain West title. The women had won their seventh straight while the men had won their sixth. That year there were four Lobos who had won All American honors in track and field.[24]

Israeli Adva Cohen competes for the team.

Rivalries

Championships

NCAA team championships

New Mexico has won 3 NCAA team national championships.[25]

National runners-up
  • Division I Men's & Women's Skiing (1992, 2006)
  • Division I Men's Soccer (2005)
gollark: It seems that you explicitly suggested it was good because it gave more power to rural people than they would otherwise get based on population.
gollark: According to my badness determination metrics.
gollark: What I am saying is that deliberately designing an electoral system and then messing with it so that a particular group consistently gets outsized amounts of power is bad, and that it isn't particularly justified based on "cultural differences" because there are lots of culturally different groups.
gollark: There are cultural differences based on different factors, though.
gollark: There are divisions other than rural/city. Why pick that one and muck with the system to favour one side of it?

See also

References
  1. "Great Friends of UNM Track Stadium". GoLobos.com. August 5, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  2. "UNM Soccer Complex". GoLobos.com. May 12, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  3. University of New Mexico Art Sheet (PDF). GoLobos.com. April 27, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  4. "Conference USA Adds Affiliate Members for 2012-13 and 2013-14" (Press release). Conferenceusa.com. September 4, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  5. "Lobo Nickname". The University of New Mexico Lobos. University of New Mexico. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  6. "UNM Traditions - Cherry and Silver :: New Mexico's Flagship University | The University of New Mexico". www.unm.edu. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  7. "The Fight Song :: New Mexico's Flagship University | The University of New Mexico". www.unm.edu. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  8. "Know your enemy: New Mexico edition". One Bronco Nation Under God. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  9. "UNM Traditions - The Lobo Mascot :: New Mexico's Flagship University | The University of New Mexico". www.unm.edu. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  10. "UNM Traditions - The Lobo Mascot :: New Mexico's Flagship University | The University of New Mexico". www.unm.edu. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  11. "The University of New Mexico Lobos". www.golobos.com. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  12. "2015 University of New Mexico Lobo Baseball Quick Facts" (PDF). University of New Mexico. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  13. Cutler, Tami (June 14, 2011), 2011 Division I Baseball Attendance (PDF), Wichita State Athletic Media Relations, archived from the original (Adobe Acrobat) on December 20, 2011
  14. "University of New MexicoFootball Record Book (1892-present)" (PDF). University of New Mexico. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  15. "Arizona/New Mexico football rivalry goes way back and has some interesting legends surrounding it". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  16. "Jay Griffin IV - 2017". Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  17. "University of New Mexico 2011 Men's Golf Virtual Media Guide". Viewer.zmags.com. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  18. "University of New Mexico Skiing Record Book (1983-present)" (PDF). University of New Mexico. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  19. https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/unm-sport-cuts-regents-meeting-today/4994620/?cat=502
  20. Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4.
  21. "TFRRS". www.tfrrs.org. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  22. "New Mexico Coach Joe Franklin: "We Have to Keep It Fun"". Runner's World. October 13, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  23. "The University of New Mexico Lobos - Staff Directory". golobos.com. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  24. "The University of New Mexico Lobos - Staff Directory". golobos.com. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  25. "All Divisions/Collegiate Total Championships : Championships History (through July 2, 2014)" (PDF). Fs.ncaa.org. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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