UNM football: Lobos announce new defensive coordinator, two position coaches

Spence Nowinsky Ohio large.jpg

Spence Nowinsky has been the defensive coordinator for three FBS programs — Miami (Ohio), Ohio and Memphis.

Sean Reider Sean Reider Sean Reider Journal Staff Reider
Published Modified

The Lobos officially have a new defensive playcaller.

Spence Nowinsky has been hired as UNM’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, the program announced Tuesday.

After 24/7 Sports reported his expected hiring Saturday, Nowinsky was one of three assistants named to head coach Jason Eck’s staff via posts on social media. The 53-year-old joins the Lobos after spending one season as Memphis’ co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.

Colin Lockett and Jared Elliott were also announced as UNM’s wide receivers and tight ends coach, respectively. The program is expected to name one more on-field assistant soon.

Nowinsky replaces Dan Jackson, who left to become the head coach at South Dakota State eight days after being named UNM’s defensive coordinator. The former Broyles Award nominee brings 15 years of FBS coordinating experience at Memphis, Ohio and Miami (Ohio) to UNM, and previously worked with Eck at Wisconsin and Idaho in the early 2000s.

“(I’m) excited to get a guy who I’ve worked with a lot who’s got really good FBS coordinating experience and someone who I’ve known for a long time and trust,” Eck told the Journal when asked about the defensive coordinator vacancy last week.

Lockett, 33, joins UNM after spending one season as the wide receivers coach at UC-Davis. Including Samuel Gbatu Jr. (44 receptions, 779 yards, seven touchdowns), four of his receivers finished with over 35 receptions and 500 yards as the Aggies finished 11-3.

A former San Diego State wide receiver, Lockett previously worked as a graduate assistant at Oregon (2023) and SDSU (2020) in addition to serving as Washington’s defensive backs quality control coach (2021-22).

Elliott was named to UNM’s staff after spending three years coaching tight ends at Ball State. The former Miami (Ohio) quarterback spent last season as the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator, overseeing a unit that averaged 25.3 points per game.

Elliott compiled a 9-31 record over four seasons as the head coach at Western Illinois before parting ways with the school in November 2021.

lobos sports college
Powered by Labrador CMS