On May 22, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors were introduced to University of New Mexico Men’s Basketball Coach Eric Olen by GACC chair Del Esparza and UNM Athletics Director Fernando Lovo.
Lovo told the board that he was delighted to introduce coach Olen to them. Before the introduction, he made a few comments.
Lovo said UNM has achieved academic and athletic milestones this year. Those include:
- Seventy UNM athletes received an undergraduate degree.
- Seventeen received a graduate degree.
- Twenty-two are New Mexicans.
- Twenty of those student-athletes graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.
- Men’s tennis team won its first Mountain West title in 15 years.
- Men’s golf team qualified for the NCAA championship in San Diego as the only non- power core team to make the championship.
- UNM women’s track and field won three conference championships in one year – outdoor, indoor and cross country.
- UNM currently has six Mountain West championships this year.
- UNM basketball surpassed $4 million in revenue this year.
Lovo introduced Olen, who he said hit the ground running since accepting the job as men’s basketball coach.
Olen talked about the journey he’s had in rebuilding the men’s basketball program — where only one athletic trainer is coming back from the previous program.
He said he’s secured 13 players as well as his coaching staff to prepare for the next season, which starts on June 9.
“With each player, I’m building a team that will keep UNM competitive,” Olen said. “I didn’t expect to have to rebuild completely. We are doing it and with the right pieces of the puzzle coming together. Basketball is everything to the community here and we’re hoping to build on that foundation.”
The board welcomed Coach Olen to Albuquerque and UNM and expressed excitement for his first season!