UNM’s new AD says potential for Lobo football is ‘immense’

Saturday was a late one for Fernando Lovo.

And why wouldn’t it be? Like any other Lobo fan, New Mexico’s athletic director was busy watching UNM football’s season-ending 38-30 loss to Hawaii.

And like any other Lobo fan, Lovo is sold on what UNM football can be going forward.

“I told the team the other day, there’s no reason to hang your heads … (head coach Bronco Mendenhall) says his goal is to capture hearts and minds,” Lovo said. “And not only did he do that to his team, but he did it across the state, in this community (and) on campus. Just really a tremendous job within the first season.”

Lovo, who started his new job this week, was introduced Wednesday during a press conference at the Pit. He said to gathered fans and media that he thinks the potential for UNM football is “immense” under Mendenhall and in general, adding he saw it from his first meeting with the team.

“You can tell that they’re hungry for more. They want more,” Lovo said. “And so to me, when you have that underlying tone and underlying theme in your program and you have a really set culture that has clear benchmarks of what’s next, the potential is frankly unmatched. I’m excited, really, to dive into that and to continue to grow and build on the success that they had this year.”

The 36-year-old was announced as UNM’s newest AD on Nov. 24 and started work Monday. Lovo was previously a senior associate athletics director at the University of Texas and worked in football operations at Ohio State University and the University of Houston with a stint as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ chief of staff for one season.

UNM finished 5-7 in Mendenhall’s first season, claiming its most wins since 2016. The Lobos notably defeated then-No. 19 Washington State on Nov. 16 for the program’s first win over a ranked opponent in 20 years as first-team All-Mountain West quarterback Devon Dampier set multiple single season team records.

But with what Lovo called “tremendous” success, other suitors might come calling. Mendenhall, a Utah native, has been linked to Utah State’s vacancy by multiple outlets; Tuesday, the former BYU and Virginia coach said he has not been in contact with the Mountain West school.

When asked about Mendenhall’s name being linked to other jobs, Lovo said he, along with UNM President Garnett S. Stokes, is planning to propose “aggressive” investments into the program “to (Mendenhall), his program, his staff, all of those things that he needs” to ensure he remains with the Lobos.

Mendenhall is the highest-paid football coach in school history after he signed a five-year, $6 million contract in May.

Lovo added it’s “too early” for him to speak on any possible facility improvements, but noted it could be a possibility down the road. UNM replaced the turf field in the program’s indoor practice facility in August and opened the New Mexico Mutual Training Center in April 2023.

“We need to take a holistic look at all things,” he continued. “We need to provide our student athletes with the best for them to develop and train. And if that includes facilities, then it’ll be facilities.

“If it includes something else, then that’ll be the case as well.”

Lovo also said the Mountain West is an “incredible conference,” pointing in particular to its success in football this season, and believes UNM can solidify itself at the top of the league in the future.

“(We) understand (in) conference realignment, there’s a lot of unknown,” Lovo said. “As I mentioned, (Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez) has done a really good job navigating uncharted waters. And the best thing that I can say — and I’ve said (it) since I’ve been here — is that there’s excitement and there’s opportunities we’re really bullish about.”