Outgoing AD thanks fans, says he’s confident in future of Lobo athletics

Outgoing UNM Athletic Director Fernando Lovo, who was hired on Monday to be the new Athletic Director at the University of Colorado, posted Tuesday morning a thank you to Lobo fans for his 13-month stop in Albuquerque.

The full text of that message to fans can be read at the bottom of this article.

The 37-year-old Lovo also spoke with the Journal in a phone interview about the successful stint, albeit brief, he had at UNM that positioned him so quickly for such a leap in the college administration industry from what was a roughly $500,000 a year job at a Group of 5 Mountain West school to a $1.2 million annual contract with a Big 12 program that features one of the highest-profile football coaches in the country.

He said anything related to the timing of the CU search and announcement, which he noted was not official until Monday when the CU Board of Regents approved his new contract, would need to be asked of that school. But he acknowledged that with last week's bowl game for the Lobo football team — one he attended just on Friday, one day before news broke of him getting the CU job — was "challenging."

"But we were singularly focused on having a great bowl experience, and I think we did that," Lovo told the Journal. "The outcome wasn't what we wanted, losing a close game in overtime, but while we were there, we had a great time, a great experience for our student-athletes and our coaches and fans. Timing, it's never ideal, and these things aren't really ever planned out with perfect timing in mind."

While he understands the reaction of fans who feel let down, betrayed or just plain frustrated with another highly-visible, and important piece of Lobo Athletics moving on amid a recent string of the program losing so many big name athletes, coaches and administrators, he stressed the vision he tried selling of UNM and the department was always one built on a collective pride of the community around Lobo athletics — something he doesn't see going away anytime soon.

"What we accomplished together this (past) year, it started with the incredible job that Eddie (Nuñez, the former UNM Athletic director who left for Houston in August, 2024) and all of them had done to lay the foundation," Lovo told the Journal. "I think that was where it started, and we have great coaches and people here. To me, what we were able to accomplish here this past year is something that I'm incredibly proud of.

"The community rallied behind us. The state rallied behind us. One of the best experiences of my life was to see the stadium full and the Pit full and finishing it out with all those folks celebrating (the Lobo football team's bowl game last week) in Phoenix, that's what I focus on. That's the 'why' behind it all and that's something I will forever be proud of in my time here."

Asked about those who may feel betrayed about a person having spent much of his time at the school trying to convince people to buy into a program he has now left, Lovo said he understands that frustration, too.

"Everything that I've done, I've learned from my mentors. And they all pour their heart and soul into what they do, and I try to do the same," Lovo said. "When you do that, there's always things that can create animosity or hard feelings if certain things happen (like leaving for another job), but for me it was always about the vision and I feel like our team, together, we were able to get folks to really buy in and believe. I understand that in the abruptness of things people can get overcome with emotion and angry, upset, but I know what myself and my family will always cherish about our time here was being a part of all of those people coming together around Lobo athletics in the time we were here."

Lovo will replace out-going CU Athletic Director Rick George, who spent the past 13 years running Buffaloes Athletics and stepped down in November, though will remain on as a special advisor to the Chancellor and AD Emeritus while also working with Lovo in the transition there.

In his one year at UNM, the athletic department not only performed extraordinarily well on the playing fields, but also raised more money than ever.

In his first week on the job in December 2024, Lovo was tasked with hiring a football head coach after Bronco Mendenhall left for Utah State after just one year with the Lobos.

Lovo brought in Jason Eck from Idaho, and the team outperformed expectations enormously in the coach's first year. The Lobos, a preseason pick to finish near the bottom of the Mountain West, tied with three other teams for the conference's best regular-season record. UNM won nine games overall and played in a bowl game, both feats for the first time since 2016.

In March, Lovo was on the hunt for a new men's basketball coach after Richard Pitino left for Xavier. Lovo hired Eric Olen, from UC San Diego, to lead UNM's most prestigious athletics program.

Olen took over a program that lost every player and coach from the previous season and so far has the Lobos playing well — a 10-2 record — to start the season.

Neither the UNM men's basketball team (17-0) nor the football team (6-0) lost a home game in 2025. No other Division I team in the country can make that claim.

Also in Lovo's first year, the UNM men's and women's track and field programs finished in the top 10 nationally, and UNM men's and women's cross-country programs finished in the top five nationally. No other collegiate track and field or cross country program had that level of success among both men's and women's programs. Also, four UNM runners claimed national championships in the calendar year.

Lovo also replaced the UNM women's soccer and volleyball coaches in his one year on the job.

UNM has not yet announced what it will do in the interim until a permanent replacement is hired.

Lovo's contract letter to fans

Here is the text of Lovo's thank you message penned to fans, which he posted on his social media account Tuesday morning:

There truly are no words that could fully express my deep gratitude for the incredible opportunity my family and I had to be part of the University of New Mexico community. This world class institution and Lobo Athletics are special because of all of you. The student athletes, coaches, staff, fans, and donors are the heartbeat of this community and the reason New Mexico Athletics will always thrive.

The strength of Lobo Athletics is about the incredible people inside the department and the unwavering pride and passion of Lobo nation. That foundation is strong, and I am confident it will continue to carry this department forward.

Thank you for welcoming my family so warmly and for caring so deeply about this place. It has been an honor to witness the power of Lobo Nation, and we will always be grateful for the people who make this community special.

With appreciation, Fernando Lovo."

Reach Geoff Grammere at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.