UNM WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
UNM aims to name new women’s hoops coach before portal opens
New AD Berryman says the Lobos are down to finalists
The clock is ticking on the University of New Mexico's women's basketball coaching search and Athletic Director Ryan Berryman intends to beat the buzzer.
UNM officially entered the market for a new coach on March 21, announcing a negotiated buyout with former coach Mike Bradbury after 10 seasons. The days since then have been busy.
Berryman and Amy Beggin — UNM's senior associate athletic director for compliance — have been working to lock in a new head coach before the NCAA’s women's basketball transfer portal opens on April 6. As of Friday, that timeline remained intact.
“We’re deep into the process,” Berryman said. “Amy has taken the lead in narrowing down our list of candidates and we’re down to finalists. Naming a coach before the portal opens is still the goal.”
Berryman declined to say how many finalists he and Beggin are considering or to name them, but he said interest in the position has been high. UNM did not conduct an actual application process but formed a list of roughly 50 to 60 candidates after advertising the coaching opening nationally.
“It’s perceived to be one of the best jobs in the league,” Berryman said. “Interest has been very high.”
The Lobos are coming off a 22-10 season during which they finished 14-6 in Mountain West play and tied for fourth place in the 12-team Mountain West.
New Mexico enjoyed consistent regular-season success under Bradbury, who won 202 games over his 10 seasons. But his teams struggled in the MW Tournament, going 3-10. UNM lost in the quarterfinals each of the past four seasons, including dropping a 62-61 heartbreaker to Boise State on March 8.
Eleven of the 13 players on UNM's 2025-26 roster are eligible to return next season, including four starters (Destinee Hooks, Joana Magalhäes, Cacia Antonio and Jessie Joaquim). The Lobos also have three incoming freshmen signed.
UNM was on spring break when Bradbury's departure was announced, and Beggin held a virtual meeting with the team that day to fill players in and answer questions, Berryman said.
Beggin has an extensive background with UNM women's basketball, having played for the Lobos from 2006-10. She served on UNM's staff under coaches Don Flanagan and Yvonne Sanchez before moving into an administrative role in 2016. She’s now playing a key role in determining who will be the first major coaching hire of Berryman’s tenure.
Berryman said coaching experience and previous success are among the prerequisites for New Mexico’s next coach.
“It’s pretty straight-forward,” he said. “We want someone who’s demonstrated success coaching women, winning their league and showing an ability to recruit. In terms of culture, we want someone who’s high-energy, positive and fits in with our department.”
UNM has interviewed both current head coaches and assistants during its hiring process, Berryman said.
New Mexico will be part of a revamped Mountain West next season with longtime members Colorado State, Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State departing for the rebuilt Pac-12. Grand Canyon joined the MW in 2025-26 and will be joined next season by newcomers UTEP, Hawaii and UC Davis.
Asked how UNM women's basketball will stack up in terms of NIL payments and other perks to entice prospective coaches and players to join the Lobos, Berryman was optimistic.
“You can always do more,” he said, “but we’ve received a lot of positive feedback from candidates about what we can offer in terms of NIL and other intangibles like facilities and fan support. We believe we’re top three in the conference, but as I said, you can always do more. We’ll be striving to do more.”
