 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "New Mexico Lobos" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| New Mexico Lobos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of New Mexico |
| Conference | Mountain West |
| NCAA | Division I (FBS) |
| Athletic director | Vacant |
| Location | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Varsity teams | 18 (8 men's and 10 women's) |
| Football stadium | University Stadium |
| Basketball arena | The Pit |
| Baseball stadium | Santa Ana Star Field |
| Softball stadium | Lobo Softball Field |
| Soccer stadium | Great Friends of UNM Track Stadium/UNM Soccer Complex[1][2] |
| Other venues | Albuquerque Convention Center Johnson Gymnasium |
| Mascot | Lobo Louie and Lobo Lucy |
| Nickname | Lobo |
| Fight song | Hail, New Mexico |
| Colors | Cherry and silver[3] |
| Website | www |
 | |
| Team NCAA championships | |
| 3 | |
| Individual and relay NCAA champions | |
| 78[4] | |
TheNew Mexico Lobos are theathletic teams that represent theUniversity of New Mexico, located inAlbuquerque. The university participates in theNCAA Division I in theMountain West Conference (MW) since 1999, after leaving theWestern Athletic Conference. The university's athletic program fields teams in 18 varsity sports.
UNM teams have won 3 national championships. The women'scross-country won theNCAA championship in 2015 and 2017 and theDivision I Skiing championship in 2004.
The Lobos name began in 1920. A UNM Weekly student newspaper editor, George S. Bryan, came up with theteams' name, the "Lobos", which is theSpanish word for wolf. Previously the University's teams were referred to as the "University Boys" or "Varsities".[5]
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 theSandia Mountains and the description of theRio 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]
Formed in 1917,[7] the Spirit Marching Band performs at football games during pre-game and at halftime, and accompanies the football team to all bowl games.[8] The band hosts theZia Marching Band Fiesta, a regional marching band competition.[8]
The University of New Mexico Spirit Program consists of two co-ed cheerleading teams (one large and one small), a dance team and theLobo Louie and Lobo Lucy mascots. The Spirit Program supports both men’s and women’s NCAA sports.[9] The small co-ed team ranked 7th in the nation at the UCA College Nationals in 2010.[9]
The University mascots are anthropomorphized wolves or "Lobos" named Louie and Lucy, they appear at sporting and social events.[10] Lobo Louie was created in the early 1960s and Lobo Lucy was created in the early 1980s.[11]
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.[12] A child teased the wolf at a game and was bitten, which forced officials of the school to get rid of the wolf.[11]
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.[13]
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Cross country |
| Cross country | Golf |
| Football | Soccer |
| Golf | Softball |
| Tennis | Swimming and diving |
| Track and field† | Tennis |
| Track and field† | |
| Volleyball | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor | |
The University of New Mexico sponsors teams in 8 men's and 10 women's NCAA sanctioned sports, competing in the Mountain West Conference.
_(cropped).jpg)
The baseball team's head coach isTod Brown, the pitching coach is Michael Lopez and the assistant coach/recruiting coach is Nate Causey.[14]
The Lobo baseball program began in 1899.[15]
In recent years the Lobo baseball program has seen much success; the team competed in the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament. Prior to 2010, the Lobos had not 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 aCollege World Series appearance in its program's history.
UNM's baseball team plays atSanta 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.[16]
Current Head Coach:Eric Olen
Assistant Coach: Mikey Howell
Assistant Coach: Mike Roberts
Assistant Coach: Sam Stapleton
Assistant Coach: Tom Tankelewicz
Assistant Coach: Michael Wilder
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 Eric Olen
Both men's and women's teams play inThe 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 inJohnson Gymnasium andCarlisle 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 areDave Bliss,Bob King,Roy Johnson, andSteve Alford.
The Lobo women's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament 8 times. Former head coachDon Flanagan (1999–2011) is the most successful coach in terms of wins.[citation needed]
Current Head Coach: Joe Franklin
Assistant Coach: James Butler
Assistant Coach: Dr. Richard Ceronie
Assistant Coach: Laura Bowerman[14]
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 | |
The Lobo football program began in 1892, but compiled its first competitive team in 1894.[17]
The Lobos were previously coached byMike Locksley from 2009-2011. He was fired in late 2011 after a dismal 2–26 coaching record in2+1⁄2 years at New Mexico. Locksley took the place ofRocky Long (1998–2008), who was the winningest coach in the school's history.[10]
The Lobo football program has appeared in 12 bowl games since 1939. The Lobos have captured four wins in bowl games, including the 1946Sun Bowl, the 1961Aviation Bowl, and the 2007 and 2016New Mexico Bowl.
UNM usually plays two large rivalry games each year with non-conference opponents, theArizona Wildcats and theNew Mexico State Aggies.[10] 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.[18]
Current Head Coach: Jake Harrington
Assistant Coach: Sam Saunders
The men's golf team has won 24 conference championships:[19]
Many Lobo golfers have gone on to play and win on thePGA Tour including:Tommy Armour III (four wins),Charlie Beljan (one),Brad Bryant (one),Curt Byrum (one),Tom Byrum (one), andTim Herron (four).
Current Head Coach: Jill Trujillo
Associate Head Coach: Britney Choy[14]
_(cropped).jpg)
Head Softball Coach: Nicole Orgeron
Associate Head Coach: Morgan Spearman
Assistant Coaches: Rachael Hathoot and Ariel Fifita[20]
The Lobos softball team has appeared in twoWomen's College World Series in 1980 and 1981.[21]
Current Head Coach: Joe Franklin
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 fourteenth year as the Track and Field's head coach.[23]
Franklin has led his team to 12 straight women's Mountain West titles.[14]
New Mexico has won 3 NCAA team national championships.[29]
 Sports teams based inNew Mexico | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseball |
|  | ||||
| Football |
| |||||
| Hockey |
| |||||
| Roller derby |
| |||||
| Soccer |
| |||||
| College athletics |
| |||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
