Roy W. Johnson (1920–1960) Roy Johnson, nicknamed "Old Iron Head", was fundamental to the early development of Lobo athletics. Johnson arrived in 1920 after a successful athletic career at the
University of Michigan. The UNM gymnasium at the time was a small wooden building where the walls were out-of-bounds markers for basketball games. Basketball was primarily an intramural sport, with occasional games against other schools, including
Albuquerque High School, and no regular schedule. Johnson set about building collegiate-level athletics facilities, performing some of the hard labor with his own hands. He oversaw construction of
Carlisle Gymnasium in 1928 and
Zimmerman Field in 1938, the first football stadium at UNM. During his nearly 40 years at UNM, Johnson coached every men's sport the school offered, while teaching physical education. The Lobos won 165 games with Johnson as head basketball coach, a school record for over 30 years and currently third on its all-time list. Johnson stepped down as head basketball coach after the 1939–40 season. The position passed to a few different coaches before Woody Clements took over 1944–51 and 1953–55, compiling a record of 113–119 (.487). The Lobos won the Border Conference in 1944 and 1945, and they appeared in the
NAIA post-season tournament in
1947, losing to
Hamline University in the first round. From 1951 to 1962, the Lobos competed in the
Mountain States Conference, known at the time as the Skyline Eight. In 1957, while still on faculty, Johnson oversaw construction of the 7,800-seat arena that bears his name,
Johnson Gymnasium. For many years, Johnson Gym was the most prominent feature of the UNM campus for those driving along Central Avenue in
Albuquerque, part of historic
U.S. Route 66.
Bob King (1962–1972) Lobo basketball first achieved national prominence under
Bob King, who was previously an assistant coach at his alma mater, the
University of Iowa. The Lobos had only two winning seasons from 1947 to 1962, compiling a 113–252 (.310) record, including a dismal 42–149 (.220) during the last eight years. King had an immediate impact on the program. The Lobos won as many games in his first two seasons as in the previous seven combined and went 116–44 (.725) over his first six seasons. The team posted wins over Kansas and at Purdue and received a berth in the
1964 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) at
Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Lobos defeated Drake and NYU before falling to Bradley in the championship game, finishing with a 23–6 record and ranked 16th in the
UPI poll. Harge averaged 18.8 points and 11.8 rebounds a game during his two seasons at UNM and was selected in the second round of the
1964 NBA draft by the
Philadelphia 76ers. The rise of the program continued in the 1964–65 season, led by sophomores
Mel Daniels and Ben Monroe. After an early loss at Kansas, the Lobos won ten straight, later building a 19–3 record and attaining a #10 national ranking, their first appearance in the
AP poll. They dropped their next four games on the road, however, including a one-point loss at #10 BYU. They were again invited to the
NIT, where they lost to St. John's to finish 19–8. Daniels averaged over 17 points and 11 rebounds a game, providing the fast-growing Lobo fan base a preview of things to come. Due to the success of King's first three seasons, attendance at Johnson Gym more than doubled, and plans to build a larger arena began to take shape. In the 1965–66 season, Daniels averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds a game, and the Lobos raced out to an 11–1 record after beating #7 BYU. They faltered down the stretch though and finished 16–8, completing the team's best four-year stretch in nearly forty seasons. The team began the 1966–67 season ranked 6th in the country and rose to #5 before winning at #2 UTEP, the defending national champion and highest-ranked team New Mexico had ever beaten at that point. The Lobos reached #3 with an 11–1 record but then lost four straight and fell out of the rankings. Despite a disappointing WAC campaign, they received a bid to the
NIT. The Lobos beat Syracuse in the first round before losing to Rutgers, finishing the season 19–8 and ranked #18 in the UPI. Daniels averaged 21.5 points and 11.6 rebounds a game, finishing his career with a still-team record 44
double-doubles, and he became the first Lobo to be named as an
All-American. He was selected as the ninth pick overall in the
1967 NBA draft by the
Cincinnati Royals, but he chose to play in the fledgling
American Basketball Association (ABA), becoming one of its
greatest all-time players. He was named the first ABA Rookie of the Year in 1968, ABA Most Valuable Player in 1969 and 1971, and he led the
Indiana Pacers to three ABA championships. Stoking the popularity of Lobo basketball by this time was the success of two longtime rivals. New Mexico began playing
New Mexico State in 1904, currently totaling over 200 games; they first played UTEP in 1929, with over 140 games total.
Don Haskins took over at UTEP in 1961 and led the Miners to a 128–32 (.800) record in his first six seasons, including a 28–1
national championship season in 1965–66. New Mexico State hired
Lou Henson as head coach in 1966, and like the Lobos under King, in his second season the Aggies began achieving national rankings and post-season tournament appearances. They went 74–14 (.841) from 1967 to 1970, including a 27–3 season in 1969–70 in which they were ranked in the top five most of the year, culminating in a
Final Four appearance. The Lobos, Aggies, and Miners played one another twice every season, home-and-away, and a fierce rivalry grew among them. The teams were frequently ranked in national polls, giving their games a showdown quality extending beyond local bragging rights to the national stage. The Lobos lost Daniels and Monroe to graduation and were picked in the 1967–68 preseason to finish last in the WAC. Instead, they started the season 17–0, rising to #6 before beating #5 Utah in the Pit, propelling the Lobos to #4. They swept their regular season match-ups against New Mexico State, with both teams ranked in the top ten at the time of their second game. The Lobos won the WAC championship, Nelson was named a Helms All-American, Also playing in the first round at The Pit, New Mexico State lost to eventual champion
UCLA, then won the consolation game over the Lobos, who finished the season 23–5. The 1968–69 season began with high expectations and the Lobos ranked in the top ten, but they dropped out after a string of road losses. Howard led a young team, scoring 19.7 per game, with sophomores
Willie Long and Petie Gibson beginning their runs as three-year starters. The Lobos swept #8 New Mexico State, with Gibson hitting a memorable last-second shot in the latter game, leading to a brief return to the national rankings. After the 1971–72 season, assistant coach Norm Ellenberger was elevated to head coach, and King served as Assistant Athletics Director the next season. King then left to become head coach and Athletics Director at
Indiana State University. In 1976, he recruited future
Hall of Famer
Larry Bird to ISU, where he led the Sycamores to a 48–12 record in his first two seasons. King suffered a heart attack and brain aneurysm shortly before Bird's senior season, however, and his assistant,
Bill Hodges, led the team to the
1979 Final Four, where they lost to Michigan State in the championship game. King continued as AD until retiring the next year. Bob King transformed the New Mexico program, becoming known as the "Architect of Lobo Basketball." It was Ellenberger's first Division I head coaching position, but he made up for what he lacked in experience with energy and enthusiasm. The program thrived, and Ellenberger became a local celebrity, restaurateur, and man-about-town, earning the nickname "Stormin' Norman" for his flashy attire and fiery coaching style. Like King, Ellenberger got off to a fast start in his first two seasons. In 1972–73, the Lobos raced out to a 9–0 record, including road wins at Oregon State and eventual
Southwest Conference champion Texas Tech, leading to their first appearance in the national rankings in nearly four years. The team was led by the strong inside scoring and rebounding of Darryl Minniefield, Bernard Hardin, and Mark Saiers. In late February the Lobos were 21–3, ranked #15, and leading the WAC, before losing their last two games and finishing second in conference. The Lobos returned to the
NIT, losing to eventual champion Virginia Tech and finishing 21–6. The 1973–74 Lobos began the season 12–0, launching them to a #8 ranking. Bill Hagins replaced Minniefield, and the team was again dominant inside. After a string of road losses, the Lobos recovered to win six of seven and secure the WAC championship in a strong season for the league when five of eight teams were ranked at some point. The Lobos earned their second trip to the
NCAA tournament and tallied their first tournament victory, downing Idaho State before losing to San Francisco in the second round. They beat Dayton in the regional consolation game to finish the season 22–7 and ranked #18 in the UPI. Attendance at The Pit surged to its best ever, a trend that would continue throughout the Ellenberger years, regularly earning placement among the top five in the nation. The top six largest crowds ever at The Pit were during this period. The 1974–75 Lobo team was depleted by graduation and slipped to a 13–13 record. Ellenberger began relying heavily on recruiting
Junior College (JC) transfers, a tactic that would lead to his best season as Lobo coach but later to his downfall. a game still lauded as one of the greatest and loudest ever in The Pit. The 1976–77 team featured JC arrivals
Michael Cooper, Marvin Johnson, and Willie Howard, the nucleus for a successful and exciting two-year run. Cooper is among the best overall players ever produced by the Lobo program and was named an All-American in 1978. "Coop" later became a mainstay of the "Showtime"
Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s, winning five NBA championships over a 12-year career. His defensive prowess made him an eight-time recipient of
NBA All-Defensive Team honors, as well as the
Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1987. By contrast, Marvin "Automatic" Johnson was one of the greatest scorers in Lobo history. He became the fourth leading scorer in school history at the time in just two seasons, set single season records for total points, season points per game (24.0), career points per game (21.9), and he scored a still-school record 50 points in a single game. Willie Howard was a talented inside player averaging 13 points and six rebounds a game, frequently providing explosive scoring off the bench. Further JC transfers Jimmy Allen and Will Smiley completed a strong Lobo front line. The injection of talent made the Lobos exciting and competitive, but they took time to gel as a team, beginning the season 6–4 with a couple of disappointing losses. They beat Iowa and USC on the way to another showdown with #9 UNLV, losing a high-scoring game, then losing to #10 Arizona. The Lobos remained in the WAC race late in the season, but road struggles relegated them to third place and a 19–11 final record. Before the 1977–78 season, Ellenberger installed what he called the "Equal Opportunity Motion Offense", a run-and-gun attack emphasizing picks and passing as players rotate through each position, taking advantage of his versatile, athletic lineup. The scheme also employed a full-court pressing, trapping defense to generate points off of turnovers. The team played at a frenetic pace and led the nation in scoring at 97.5 points per game. Phil Abney and Russell Saunders were JC additions; Abney initially backed up Howard but later moved into the starting line-up. The Lobos stood at 7–2 after losing to #10 Syracuse, then rattled off 14 straight wins, including a home-and-away sweep of #9 UNLV, pushing them into the national rankings and eventually into the top ten. In an investigation into illegal gambling, the FBI had placed a wiretap on the phone of a major Lobo booster. While Ellenberger was visiting this booster, in November 1979, he took a call on the tapped phone from assistant coach Manny Goldstein. They discussed an arrangement to transfer bogus credits from a California Junior College to the office of the UNM registrar. Based on this conversation, the FBI launched an investigation that led to a federal indictment of Ellenberger on seven counts of fraud and forgery of academic transcripts, though he was acquitted of those charges at trial. In July 1981, however, he was convicted by a state District Court on 21 of 22 counts of fraud and submitting false public vouchers. The judge deferred sentence for a year, noting that it was unfair for Ellenberger alone to bear culpability, and all counts were formally dismissed in 1983. The NCAA investigation into the scandal found 34 violations of recruiting rules, and the Lobo program was placed on probation and banned from post-season appearances for three years. Six players were dismissed from the team in the opening weeks of the 1979–80 season, and another was suspended. The damage to the program was devastating, as it was forced to rebuild virtually from scratch, beginning in mid-season. While the criminal charges were cleared from Ellenberger's record, he would never be a college head coach again. Despite the scandal, Ellenberger managed to remain popular in Albuquerque, running a nightclub, appearing in TV commercials, and coaching the city's
Continental Basketball Association team – some fans even wanted him to be rehired as Lobo coach. In 1986, former rival and longtime friend Don Haskins hired Ellenberger as his lead assistant at UTEP, where he would coach for four years. He then became the lead assistant for
Bobby Knight at Indiana for ten seasons, from 1990 to 2000, The team limped to a 6–22 record. One stand-out was Kenny Page, a transfer from Ohio State. Page was the only consistent offensive threat on the team, averaging 28 points a game, still the Lobo record for best season average. Harrison and his players gained fan appreciation for persevering under difficult circumstances, but he served primarily as a caretaker until a new head coach was named.
Gary Colson (1980–1988) Gary Colson rebuilt the Lobo program virtually from scratch after Lobogate, restoring its integrity and eventually its success on the court. Colson inherited a program under NCAA sanctions, with only three players remaining on scholarship. While he initially relied on JC transfers to fill the roster, he also began the slow process of rebuilding the program around freshmen recruits, with a greater emphasis on academics. A highlight of Colson's first season was his fourth game as head coach, hosting an Arizona State team that would reach #3 in the nation led by future NBA players
Byron Scott,
Fat Lever,
Alton Lister, and
Sam Williams. The callow Lobo squad led for much of the game, encouraged by a delirious crowd at The Pit. The Sun Devils battled back to tie the game at the end of regulation before escaping with a win in OT, 86–83. Despite the struggles of the team, attendance at The Pit actually improved in Colson's early years, remaining in the top four nationally. The Lobos opened the season with two losses before beating USC and Washington and winning at #7 UCLA. The plucky squad lacked depth, but its veterans found ways to win, building a 16–4 record. Top ten-ranked UTEP foiled the Lobos, however, sweeping their regular season match-ups and knocking them out of the WAC tournament. Smith was named All-WAC, and Colson was named WAC Coach of the Year. along with a nucleus of sophomores, including guards
Hunter Greene and
Kelvin Scarborough, who both scored in double figures. The Lobos beat a good Arizona team before losing a close game to #1
Georgetown, led by
Patrick Ewing, the first time the Lobos had faced a top-ranked opponent. The team slipped to 6–5 before winning eight out of nine, gaining a share of the WAC lead. They then lost five of six to finish in a tie for third. They beat Texas A&M in the
NIT before losing at Fresno State to finish the season 19–13. Brown again led the Lobos in 1985–86 with 20.9 points and 7.5 rebounds a game, earning All-WAC recognition. Scott was lost to graduation, Greene sat out the season injured, and the inexperienced team struggled badly on the road. They nevertheless reached the
NIT, losing to Texas and finishing 17–14. The 1986–87 season was the most successful for Colson as Lobo coach. Greene returned to average 21 points and six rebounds a game, while Scarborough added 19 points and six assists. The Lobos scored over eighty points a game and set the team record for most total points in a season. The Lobos logged wins over Texas and Oklahoma State on the way to a 17–5 record. They then lost three league road games and fell to third in a tight WAC race. The Lobos reached the final of the WAC tournament but lost to Wyoming, which went on to reach the Sweet Sixteen in the
NCAA tournament. At 25–9 in a strong WAC, Lobo fans retained hope that New Mexico would gain an at-large berth to the tournament. The selection committee granted the WAC three spots in the field, but the Lobos were left out, a disappointment that would linger through the following season. They were again relegated to the
NIT, losing to Oregon State and finishing 25–10, the team record for wins in a season at the time. Scarborough was named All-WAC and finished his career second (now third) in Lobo history in total assists. In 1987–88 the Lobos were led by Charlie Thomas, a junior transfer from Wake Forest (17 points and 7.5 rebounds a game), and senior Greene (16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds). The team tallied early wins over UCLA, Ohio State, and at Texas before hosting #1
Arizona, led by All-Americans
Sean Elliott and
Steve Kerr. The Lobos jumped out to a 25–9 lead before the Wildcats chiseled away at the lead, cutting it to two late in the game. Elliott had an opportunity to put Arizona in the lead with a three-pointer with seconds remaining, but Greene blocked the shot to seal the win, the only time the Lobos have beaten a #1-ranked opponent. Colson was forced to resign after the season ended, a move that remains somewhat controversial. Former UNM AD John Bridgers believed Colson had never received the full support of the Lobo community. Colson said the popularity and continued presence of Ellenberger during his early years were unnerving and that he sometimes felt in competition with the former coach. Colson's teams had gone 107–62 (.633) in his last five seasons, but his failure to win the conference or to make the NCAA tournament were common criticisms. Colson had also clashed with Koenig in a contract dispute and had gone over his head to resolve the issue. Colson's supporters pointed to the strong recruiting class he had coming in, arguing that his best teams were ahead of him, as well as to the integrity and academic success forged by Colson. Complicating matters, Koenig himself was fired three months later and eventually faced indictment on criminal charges for his activities as AD. Knight acknowledged that he had seriously considered the offer but eventually declined, stating that he did not have the energy that would be required. Knight recommended Bliss, who had been his assistant at Army and Indiana before serving as head coach at Oklahoma and SMU. Bliss inherited a strong nucleus of senior Charlie Thomas, junior Darrell McGee, and sophomores
Luc Longley and Rob Robbins. All had been Colson recruits, and Bliss reportedly flew to Australia to secure Longley's return to New Mexico. The Lobos got off to a slow start in 1988–89, including losses to #11 Arizona and #6 Oklahoma. They then won 11 of 12, taking the WAC lead into the last month of the season. After a couple of upset losses at home, however, they fell into a tie for second and again settled for the
NIT. The Lobos notched wins over Santa Clara and Pepperdine before losing to eventual tournament runner-up St. Louis, finishing the season at 22–11. The Lobos shot their best field goal percentage in a season, .542, placing them second in the nation, and McGee established the still-standing record for assists in a season. Thomas finished his career with over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds, one of two Lobos to accomplish that in just two seasons. The Lobos had a roller-coaster season in 1989–90, buoyed by record-setting performances by Longley, Robbins, and McGee. They lost four straight early in the year, then won their next five; they lost seven of nine, but won their last seven regular season games; they carried that momentum into the
NIT and reached its Final Four. Longley was named All-WAC, averaging 18.4 points and 9.7 rebounds while setting Lobo records for blocks in a season and per game. Robbins led the nation in free throw shooting, making 93.5% of his attempts, including 52 in a row at one point, both school records. McGee capped his career with Lobo records for most games played and most career assists. In the NIT, the Lobos knocked off Oregon, Oklahoma State, and Hawaii to make the Final Four in New York. They lost to St. Louis in the semi-finals, then in overtime to Penn State in the consolation game to finish the season 20–14. The 1990–91 Lobos were again led by Longley averaging 19.1 points and 9.2 rebounds a game, with Robbins adding 14 points a game. The team began the season 11–2 but lost four straight, struggling on the road. They again finished strong, winning nine of their last eleven, including four of five on the road. They finished third in the WAC but received an at-large bid to the
NCAA tournament, their first berth since 1978. They lost in the first round to #14 Oklahoma State to finish 20–10. Longley was the seventh player selected in the
1991 NBA draft, by Minnesota, and he went on to win three NBA championships as a starter for the Chicago Bulls (1996–98). Robbins finished his career with the Lobo record for best career free throw percentage, third best three-point shooting percentage, and second most minutes played, having started all 133 games of his career. The 1991–92 Lobos featured a balanced offense, with all five starters averaging in double figures, but they lacked a go-to scorer. Senior Willie Banks, an Albuquerque High product, led the team along with junior guards Ike Williams and Steve Logan and center Khari Jaxon. The team started slowly, including a home loss to #2 Arizona, but later won seven of eight to gain an early share of the WAC lead. Road struggles slowed them, however, and despite another strong finish they ended up a game out of the lead. Banks was named All-WAC and finished as Lobo career leader (now second) in three-point percentage. The Lobos returned to the
NIT, where they beat Louisiana Tech and Washington State before losing at Virginia, finishing the season 20–13. The 1992–93 Lobos had an experienced core with Williams, Logan, and Jaxon returning as seniors. They began the season 7–1, losing only at #14 Arizona while sweeping ranked New Mexico State. They began their WAC schedule with losses at Utah and BYU but rebounded to win eight of their next nine. The Lobos led the conference in scoring defense and were 15th in the nation, allowing 63.2 points per game. A pair of upset losses prevented them from catching the #9 Utes and #21 Cougars, who were tied atop the league at 14–1 late in the season. The Lobos beat both in The Pit in the final week, however, then upset BYU on the way to winning their first WAC tournament championship, and securing a trip to the
NCAA tournament. Williams was named conference tournament MVP; he and Jaxon were both named All-WAC. The 1993–94 Lobos were picked in preseason polls to finish fifth in the WAC after losing their three leading players to graduation. Senior
Greg Brown, a 5 ft 7in point guard from Albuquerque High, produced a monumental season, though, leading the Lobos to their first regular season WAC title in 16 years. Brown averaged 19.3 points a game, scoring over 30 four times, often in pivotal games, with a season-best 42; junior Marlow White averaged 17, senior Notch Neves 13, and promising freshman
Charles Smith added over ten a game. The Lobos again relied on three-point shooting, attempting the most threes in school history while making nearly ten a game, leading the WAC. The Lobos started 11–2, with both losses to New Mexico State in close, exciting games. The team was undefeated at home in conference and won a key road game at BYU to seal the league championship, led by a torrent of points from Brown. They lost in the conference tournament but received a berth in the
NCAA tournament as a ten-seed facing Virginia. The Lobos built a 15-point lead early in the second half, but their shooting touch again disappeared, missing their last ten three-pointers. Smith led with 20 points, but the rest of the team shot a combined 29%, including 18% from three-point range. Virginia scored the last eight points of the game to take the lead, and the Lobos missed three shots at tying the game in the last 12 seconds, finishing the season at 23–8. Bliss stated, "[a]s a coach, I have never compromised more of my offensive principles than while coaching Greg Brown. Because his best play is to dribble down the court and shoot it. Everybody knows that's not a great basketball play, but for us it was terrific." The 1994–95 season was a rebuilding year for the Lobos, who finished 15–15 but won six of their last eight games. Sophomore Smith led the team, scoring 16 points a game, while three freshmen –
Clayton Shields, David Gibson, and Royce Olney – played extensively. The 1995–96 team added to that nucleus Albuquerque High star
Kenny Thomas, a
USA Today and
Parade magazine High School All-American. The young Lobo squad jumped out to a 10–0 start and a #25 ranking before losing a pair of league road games. Smith averaged 19.5 points a game and Shields added 14.5, while Thomas tallied 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a game, setting Lobo standards for freshmen. The Lobos were swept by #7 Utah, dropping to 17–4, but they won their last seven games to finish second in conference. They rode the momentum into the WAC tournament championship game and beat the Utes behind a dominant 30-point, 17-rebound performance by Thomas, earning their tenth straight win and a berth in the
NCAA tournament. New Mexico later lost at Utah in a blowout, then lost a close game to the #3 Utes in the WAC tournament. The Lobos were ranked #11 and received a three-seed in the
NCAA tournament, their best seed ever. Against Old Dominion in the first round, the Lobos struggled with three-point shooting and turned to their inside game. Thomas had 15 points and eight rebounds, sealing the win with a pair of late free throws, while Long added 14 points and nine boards. He was again named All-WAC and finished as the leading scorer in Lobo history, with 1,993 points, and the leader in field goals made, having started every game of his career. Smith was chosen by the Miami Heat with the 26th pick in the first round of the
1997 NBA draft, playing five seasons in the NBA and several more in Europe. The 1997–98 Lobos had four starters returning and entered the season ranked #11. They began the year 11–1, rising to #8 before losing at #15 UCLA. Thomas averaged 17 points and nine rebounds, Shields 17 points and seven rebounds, and Long 14. Olney added 15 a game while shooting a Lobo record .513 from three-point range, as the team set the Lobo record for threes in a season. The Lobos were 21–3 and back at #11 when they lost at #19 TCU, at #5 Utah, and had a team record 41-game home-winning streak ended by BYU. Thomas was named second-team All-American, and he and Shields were both All-WAC. Gibson finished as Lobo career leader in minutes played. Attendance at The Pit remained in the top ten nationally during the Bliss years, finishing sixth in the nation twice and reaching its highest season average ever in 1997–98 at 17,625 per game. Thomas was named All-WAC for the third time and finished his career as the second leading scorer and top rebounder in Lobo history. He was selected as the 22nd pick in the first round of the
1999 NBA draft by Houston and played for 11 seasons in the NBA. The four seasons with Kenny Thomas in the line-up was the best stretch by the Lobos to date. They compiled a 102–30 (.772) record while making the NCAA tournament and winning in the first round all four years. Bliss had won 246 games as Lobo head coach and reached the NCAA tournament seven times, both school records. His teams won twenty or more games and reached post-season tournaments in ten of his 11 seasons, and he coached the four leading scorers in Lobo history. Yet, despite his success, Bliss faced mounting criticism from fans and the media for poor academic performance by his players, lax discipline, lightweight schedules, and the failure to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. In 2003, he was forced to resign from Baylor embroiled in an
ugly scandal that would end his college coaching career.
Fran Fraschilla (1999–2002) Fran Fraschilla coached at New Mexico for three seasons, compiling a 55–41 (.572) record with three NIT appearances. Fraschilla was hired days after Bliss resigned, touted as a great recruiter and up-and-coming coach after leading
Manhattan and
St. John's to the NCAA tournament. He had left St. John's under murky circumstances, however, and worked as a broadcaster and scout during the preceding season. Before the 1999–2000 season, the Lobos and seven other teams left the WAC to form the
Mountain West Conference (MWC). Fraschilla inherited three returning starters, but the team was clearly heading into a rebuilding period after losing Thomas. The inconsistent squad started 5–5 but then stunned 21-point favorite, #2 Arizona in Tucson, the highest ranked opponent the Lobos had beaten on the road since 1966. The team meandered to a 13–11 record but then won four straight, including over #21 Utah. They went to the
NIT and beat South Florida before losing at eventual champion Wake Forest, finishing 18–14. Lamont Long averaged 18.7 points a game to lead the league and earn All-MWC honors, finishing his career as the third leading scorer in Lobo history, three points ahead of former teammate Shields. The Lobos added transfer
Ruben Douglas from Arizona before the 2000–01 season, but other key recruits were sidelined by injury and disciplinary problems. Several players left the team, some claiming abuse by Fraschilla. The Lobos started the season 12–2, with an overtime win at Sweet 16-bound Gonzaga, but a blowout loss at #1 Stanford began a 1–6 slump, including several poor road performances. The Lobos lost to #13 Stanford in their opener but moved to 10–3 as Douglas led the way with 18 points a game. Hosting #18 Gonzaga, Douglas missed a pair of free throws to send the game into overtime, and the Lobos lost; point guard Marlon Parmer ripped teammates in the locker room, beginning a string of problems on court and off. The team went on a 4–10 slide starting with a blowout loss at home to Utah, after which Parmer was dismissed, and culminating with forward Patrick Dennehy shoving teammates and walking off the court during a loss at Air Force. Fraschilla had lost the team: nine players had left the program or been dismissed during his tenure.
Ritchie McKay (2002–2007) Ritchie McKay was head coach at New Mexico for five seasons with a record of 82–69 (.543) and one NCAA tournament appearance. After several coaches were discussed as candidates, some turning down offers, McKay was hired in a late night surprise and was not a popular choice among Lobo fans. His father played at UNM for Bob King, but McKay had only coached for brief stints at Portland State, Colorado State, and Oregon State, with an 83–89 career record. McKay faced a major rebuilding project in 2002–03 compounded by further dismissals and injuries that cut the team to seven scholarship players. They languished to a 10–18 finish, the first losing season for the Lobos in twenty years. Senior Ruben Douglas was the lone offensive threat and became the only Lobo ever to lead the nation in scoring, averaging 28 points a game. A grim year for the program began with a severe spinal cord injury to guard Senque Carey, who would recover fully but never play again. Discipline trouble and player defections continued into the off-season. Misfortune turned to tragedy with the
murder of former Lobo Patrick Dennehy – leading to a
scandal at Baylor implicating Dave Bliss – and the suicide of Lobo transfer Billy Feeney. Both had close friends and long-time teammates still on the Lobo roster. Bradley transfer
Danny Granger became eligible during the 2003–04 season and led the team with 19.5 points a game. The young squad showed promising signs early but struggled in conference to finish 14–14. All returned for 2004–05, and Granger turned in a spectacular season, averaging 19 points and nine rebounds a game to gain All-American recognition. They won 12 of 13 after Granger returned, however, winning the MWC tournament final over #15 Utah and receiving a 12-seed in the
NCAA tournament. Facing #22 Villanova, the Lobos shot 18% in the first half, scoring just eleven points and trailing by as much as 24. They battled to within five points in the second half but could not overcome their poor start. McKay continued to attract strong transfer players, but discipline issues persisted in 2005–06. Versatile senior guard Mark Walters led the team with 16 points a game, but after winning four straight to build a 16–9 record, they lost four of five to finish 17–13 and did not receive a post-season bid. Road struggles kept the team from gaining momentum, a chronic problem as the Lobos went 8–43 in away games under McKay. The 2006–07 team featured talented Kansas transfer
J. R. Giddens, who led the team with 16 points a game, but discipline problems limited his playing time. The team began 9–2 with an upset over #8 Wichita State but wilted in league play, going 4–12 and finishing 15–17. Fan criticism had reached a crescendo and attendance at The Pit had been dropping significantly.
Steve Alford (2007–2013) Steve Alford coached the Lobos for six seasons, compiling a 155–52 (.749) record with three NCAA tournament appearances, at least a share of four league titles, and two conference tournament championships. As a player Alford had been a prolific scorer and two-time All-American at Indiana, winning a
national championship, and earning an
Olympic gold medal with the U.S. national team. He had been a collegiate coach for 16 seasons, the previous eight at Iowa, amassing over 300 career wins. An early objective for Alford was to change the culture of the program regarding discipline and academic focus. Under McKay, J.R. Giddens had frequently missed games due to disciplinary problems. Alford applied a strict regimen and Giddens responded with a standout senior season, leading the team with 16 points and nine rebounds a game. Six other players averaged between seven and ten points as balanced scoring became a hallmark of Lobo squads under Alford. The Lobos began the 2007–08 season 14–2 before losing four of six in league; they then won eight of nine to close out the regular season. The 2008–09 Lobos mixed four veterans with young Alford recruits and were picked in the preseason to finish fifth in the MWC. Senior Tony Danridge led the unit with 15 points a game, though they again relied on balance and teamwork. The Lobos struggled to a 9–7 start before pulling together in league play, going 12–4 after winning their final five games to gain a share of the MWC title. They lost in the first round of the conference tournament, however, and were again relegated to the
NIT, where they beat Nebraska but lost at Notre Dame, finishing the season 22–12. Versatile JC transfer
Darington Hobson joined lone senior Roman Martinez, junior
Dairese Gary, and eight sophomores and freshmen. The Lobos jumped out to a 12–0 start with wins over #25 Cal and #16 Texas A&M, vaulting to #12 in the national rankings. Martinez added 14 points and six rebounds a game, and Gary 13 points and four assists. The Lobos dropped their first two MWC games but then reeled off 15 straight wins – their second longest winning streak ever – sweeping #10 BYU. The Lobos rose to #8 in the polls and won the MWC title. They lost in the conference tournament but received a three-seed in the
NCAA tournament. The team had relied heavily on its starters and was worn down with fatigue and injuries. In the second round the hobbled Lobos could not keep up with athletic, fast-breaking Washington. They finished 30–5, the most wins in a Lobo season, while going 10–2 in road games and 6–0 against ranked teams, also team highs. Alford was again named MWC Coach of the Year, and Gary was All-MWC. Martinez was honored as an Academic All-American and received the NCAA
Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award for outstanding character, leadership, integrity, and talent. The early departure of Hobson left the Lobos with just one senior again in 2010–11: Gary led with 14 points and 5.5 assists a game, carrying the young team at times. He was joined by UCLA transfer
Drew Gordon, who averaged 13 points and 10.5 rebounds, and the program's most successful freshman class to date, including starter
Kendall Williams who scored 12 points a game. The Lobos began the season 10–1, but youth caught up to them in league play and they went .500 the rest of the way. They beat #3 BYU in Provo to sweep the regular season series but lost to the Cougars in the conference tournament. Gary injured his knee in the game, a sad career end for a four-year starter and steady leader. The Lobos went to the
NIT and beat UTEP before losing at Alabama, finishing 22–13. Gordon became a dominating inside presence in 2011–12, averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds, registering 19 double-doubles, and setting the Lobo season record for rebounds. Williams and fellow sophomore
Tony Snell scored in double figures. The team played exceptional defense, allowing under 60 points per game, its fewest in the shot clock era, placing among national leaders in several categories. After two early losses, the Lobos won 13 straight en route to a 15–2 mark. They dropped a pair of league games but then won seven straight, winning at #13 San Diego State and trouncing #11 UNLV to take the league lead and climb into the national rankings at #18. Two road losses made them settle for a share of the regular season MWC title, but they again beat ranked SDSU and UNLV to secure the conference tournament championship, the first time they won both titles in a season. Gordon was named All-MWC and conference tourney MVP. Williams, Snell, and center
Alex Kirk led a balanced attack with seven players leading the team in scoring in individual games. The Lobos climbed to #16 with a 12–0 start, with a win over #19 Connecticut, before losing to NCAA tournament-bound South Dakota State; they won at #8 Cincinnati then lost at St Louis, which later reached #13. The MWC enjoyed its best season to date with four teams achieving national rankings and five making the NCAA tournament. The Lobos lost on the road to ranked San Diego State and UNLV but beat both at home and won nine out of ten to clinch the league title. Williams hit a school-record 10 threes and scored 46 points at Colorado State, both MWC records. Snell paced the offense down the stretch, averaging 18 points a game and leading the Lobos to the MWC tournament championship. The Lobos were ranked #10 and received a three-seed in the
NCAA tournament, facing Harvard, but they again turned in a disappointing performance. Kirk led with 22 points and 12 rebounds, but the team shot poorly and trailed most of the game as the Crimson answered Lobo runs with timely three-pointers to seal the upset. In the interim, Snell announced he was declaring for the NBA draft. The tournament upset and departures were disheartening blows for Lobo fans. Snell was selected by Chicago with the 20th pick in the first round of the
NBA draft.
Craig Neal (2013–2017) Craig Neal was associate head coach under Alford for three seasons at Iowa and six seasons at UNM before taking the Lobo helm. Neal played for
Bobby Cremins at Georgia Tech, earning All-ACC honors as he set the conference record for assists in a season. He played professionally for eight seasons then coached in the NBA for eight more before joining Alford at Iowa. Neal inherited four returning starters for the 2013–14 season, joining seven newcomers. Senior
Cameron Bairstow had a breakout season, averaging 20 points and seven rebounds a game, achieving one of the best single-season improvements in school history. Williams averaged 16 points and five assists, and Kirk added 13 points and nine rebounds. The Lobos began the season 7–1, beating Cincinnati, which later reached #7, but losing to Massachusetts, later #13; they lost to Kansas, which peaked at #2, but beat Marquette. The team struggled at times as the bench developed, suffering a pair of home upsets to leave them 12–4. They then won 12 of 13, including a win over #6 San Diego State to knot the MWC race, but they lost the title showdown at SDSU after squandering a large lead. The teams met again in the conference tournament final, and the Lobos prevailed for their third straight MWC tournament championship. They received a seven-seed in the
NCAA tournament, facing Stanford. Following a familiar pattern, the Lobos fell behind early then battled back. Bairstow led with 24 points and eight rebounds, but the team shot poorly and their comeback fell short. The Lobos finished the season 27–7, Neal tallying the most wins ever for a first-year Lobo coach. Bairstow and Williams were named first team All-MWC; Kirk was third team. Bairstow was named second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated. Williams finished his career as the fifth leading scorer in Lobo history, third in assists, and the MWC career assists leader. On April 1, 2017, Neal was dismissed as head coach after compiling a record of 76–52 (.594).
Paul Weir (2017–2021) On April 11, 2017,
Paul Weir was named head coach of the Lobos. Before the 2017-2018 season started, 10 of the 15 players from the previous season either transferred, left the team, or graduated. In his first season, Weir posted a 19-15 record and finished in 3rd place in the Mountain West. They lost in the
2018 Mountain West Championship to San Diego State 82-75. In the 2018-2019 season, Weir was reliant on four transfers from both Division 1 programs or junior college transfers, as well as returning senior
Anthony Mathis. UNM finished the season 14-18 and in 7th place in the Mountain West. The highlight of the season was a 85-58 win over No. 6
Nevada in
The Pit. UNM lost in the
Mountain West Championship quarterfinals to
Utah State. The 2019-2020 started promising for the Lobos. With the help of transfers
JaQuan Lyle, J.J. Caldwell,
Carlton Bragg Jr., and Vance Jackson, UNM exploded to a 15-3 start. This was short lived, however, and the Lobos went 3-11 to finish out the season. There were a multitude of reasons for this.
Carlton Bragg Jr. was accused of sexual assault and later arrested for a DWI in January 2020. He was dismissed from the team. J.J. Caldwell was also kicked off the team in January because of a domestic violence accusation. It was also later revealed that UNM basketball players were also at the party after a 22 point loss to Nevada, after they had taken a charter flight that night. Lyle had not traveled to Nevada because of a knee injury. Pitino inherited 6 transfers, including a trio of Power-5 talent in Jaelen House,
Jamal Mashburn Jr., and Gethro Muscadin. The Lobos started out 8-6 in the non-conference, including a win against in-state rival
New Mexico State where the game was delayed due to a power outage at
Pan American Center. In Mountain West play, however, the Lobos went 5-12. The highlight of the season was a 75-66 win over No. 22
Wyoming. They went on to lose in the first round in the
Mountain West Championship against
Nevada. 2022–23 Season: The Lobos started with a 14–0 record, with significant wins over teams like Saint Mary's and
Iona. Despite a mid-season slump, they finished with a 22–12 overall record and an 8–10 conference record, earning a berth in the
National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Lobos were led by first-team All-Mountain West guards Jamal Mashburn Jr. (the conference’s top scorer) and Jaelen House (third in the nation in steals), along with conference newcomer of the year Morris Udeze (the conference’s leader in double-doubles). His contract was extended through the 2027–28 season, reflecting the program’s progress under Pitino’s leadership. 2023–24 Season: Pitino led UNM to a 26–10 record, securing the Mountain West Conference Tournament title—the program’s first in a decade—and returning to the NCAA Tournament after a ten-year absence. The Lobos downed
Air Force, and three NCAA Tournament teams,
Boise State,
Colorado State and
San Diego State, on consecutive days in
Las Vegas to become the first team in Mountain West history to win the conference tournament by winning four games. The Lobos were led by five All-Mountain West players, Donovan Dent (second team), JT Toppin (second team and Mountain West Freshman of the Year), Jaelen House (third team), Jamal Mashburn Jr. (media’s third team) and Mustapha Amzil (Mountain West Co-Sixth Man of the Year). His extension was further extended through the 2028–29 season, underscoring the sustained growth and achievements of the team. 2024–25 Season: The Lobos finished with a 27–8 record, claiming the Mountain West regular-season title with a 17–3 conference record. The Lobos were led by dynamic duo of All-Mountain West Players: Mountain West Player of the Year, Donovan Dent (first team MW); Nelly Junior Joseph (first team MW & first team defense) and Tru Washington (honorable mention). They advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, defeating
Marquette before falling to
Michigan State. On March 25, 2025, Pitino accepted the head coaching position at
Xavier University.
Eric Olen (2025-Present) On March 30, 2025,
Eric Olen, formerly the head coach at
UC San Diego, was appointed as the head coach of the UNM Lobos men’s basketball team. Olen led UC San Diego to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025. == The Pit ==