Just two months ago, things seemed to be looking up for coach Paula Congleton and her University of New Mexico softball program.
The Lobos, who had gone 47-131 in Congleton’s first four seasons, stood at 18-7 entering their Mountain West Conference schedule. It appeared a corner might have been turned.
But on Monday, after UNM finished 6-18 and last in Mountain West play, athletic director Eddie Nuñez announced that Congleton’s contract would not be renewed.
The Lobos finished 26-27 overall, by far their best record during Congleton’s tenure. But any progress the record represented was deemed too little and too late.
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“I appreciate the hard work that Paula put in over the past five years as head coach,” Nuñez said in a news release. “As an alum she has worked hard to help improve our facility and reconnect with past alumni, but in order to keep moving the program forward, a change in leadership is needed.”
Congleton leaves with a record of 73-158, 25-71 in Mountain West competition.
Her Albuquerque connections are many and deep.
A Highland High School graduate, Congleton starred in basketball as well as softball for the Hornets. She was a three-time All-American for the Lobos in the late 1970s-early ’80s under coach Susan Craig. She returned to Albuquerque in the summer of 2017 after a 20-year coaching career at Santa Barbara (California) City College. She was hired prior to Nuñez taking over as athletic director later that year.
