New Era Begins: Amy Eagan Named Head Coach of Lobo Women’s Basketball
New Mexico has made its move—and it’s a big one.
In a decision that signals both ambition and expectation, Vice President/Director of Athletics Ryan Berryman announced that Amy Eagan will take over as the seventh head coach in the history of the Lobo women’s basketball program. With a résumé built on sustained success, championship pedigree, and program-building experience, Eagan arrives in Albuquerque tasked with ushering in a new era.
And if her track record is any indication, she won’t be easing into it.
A Proven Winner Takes the Reins
Eagan brings with her one of the most accomplished coaching profiles in the country.
Across 18 seasons as a collegiate head coach, she has compiled a 329-191 overall record, good for a .633 winning percentage. In conference play, her teams have been even more dominant, posting a 189-96 mark (.663). Those numbers become even more impressive when narrowed to recent history—over the last seven seasons, Eagan’s teams have gone 165-57, winning nearly 75 percent of their games while maintaining a .776 clip in league play.
Simply put, winning has followed her everywhere.
“Coach Eagan has a long history of success, of championships, and being a leader of young women,” Berryman said in the announcement. “We are excited to get the Coach Eagan era of Lobo Women’s Basketball underway.”
Building Winners, Not Just Teams
Eagan’s coaching career has been defined not just by victories, but by transformation.
Most recently, she led Lindenwood through one of the most challenging transitions in college athletics—moving from Division II to Division I. When she arrived, the program had won just two games the season prior. Within three years, she had completely flipped the script.
By the 2024-25 season, Lindenwood had become a contender, winning 23 games, reaching the Ohio Valley Conference championship game, and advancing to the Super 16 of the WNIT. Along the way, the Lions earned a share of the OVC regular-season title and captured the program’s first Division I women’s basketball championship.
The turnaround wasn’t just visible in the win column—it showed up in the metrics. Lindenwood finished inside the top 100 in NET rankings and ranked among the nation’s best in offensive efficiency, shooting, and ball security, including top-10 marks in effective field goal percentage and three-point shooting.
It’s that ability to rebuild, reshape, and elevate a program that made Eagan such an attractive candidate for New Mexico.
Dominance at Every Stop
Before her time at Lindenwood, Eagan authored one of the most dominant stretches in Division II basketball while leading Drury University.
Taking over a program that had already seen success, she elevated it even further—guiding Drury to three consecutive Great Lakes Valley Conference titles and an astonishing 87-9 record over three seasons. Her teams routinely ranked among the nation’s elite, including back-to-back 30-win campaigns.
Her 2020-21 squad came within reach of a national title, finishing 24-2 and advancing to the NCAA Division II championship game. That season earned her WBCA Division II Coach of the Year honors, further cementing her reputation as one of the top coaches in the game.
Even earlier in her career, Eagan built winning programs at Truman State, Ashford, and St. Ambrose, capturing conference titles and earning Coach of the Year honors along the way. At Truman State—her alma mater—she remains the program’s all-time leader in both wins and winning percentage.
A Competitor at Heart
Long before she was building championship teams on the sidelines, Eagan was doing it on the court.
As a player at Truman State, she established herself as one of the most decorated athletes in program history. She still holds career records in free throws made and attempted, assists, steals, and steals per game—dominating across multiple facets of the game.
Her impact went far beyond a single stat line.
Eagan finished her career with over 1,500 points, ranking among the top scorers in program history, and delivered one of the most iconic performances in school history—a 46-point game that remains the only 40-point outing ever recorded in Truman State women’s basketball.
She later played professionally overseas before eventually returning to the college game as a coach. In 2012, her legacy was formally recognized with induction into the Truman State Hall of Fame.
Vision for New Mexico
Now, Eagan steps into a New Mexico program with proud tradition and passionate support, and she’s made her expectations clear from the outset.
“We aim to win Mountain West Championships and reach the NCAA Tournament,” Eagan said. “Those goals will guide our program.”
It’s a direct, ambitious statement—but one that aligns perfectly with her history.
She inherits a program ready for direction and identity, and her emphasis on player development, culture, and competitive consistency suggests a long-term vision rather than a quick fix.
Statement Saturday Secures the Series
The tone for the weekend was set in dramatic fashion.
In Game One of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Lobos outlasted Fresno State in a back-and-forth battle, walking it off 9-8 thanks to a towering solo home run from Karsen Waslefsky in the bottom of the ninth. It was the final swing in a game that saw multiple lead changes and relentless offensive pressure from both sides.
New Mexico had jumped ahead early behind a three-run blast from Akili Carris, only to see Fresno State claw back. The Lobos responded time and again, highlighted by a three-run sixth inning that appeared to put the game away—until the Bulldogs rallied to tie it in the ninth.
That’s when Waslefsky delivered the decisive moment, sending the home crowd into celebration and handing New Mexico a critical opening win.
Game Two offered a different script—but the same result.
Behind a composed and commanding outing from Ryan Castillo, the Lobos secured the series with a 5-2 victory. Castillo worked six strong innings, keeping Fresno State scoreless while limiting hard contact and controlling the tempo throughout. His performance set the foundation for a win that never truly felt in doubt.
Offensively, the Lobos continued to produce timely hits. Carris added to his standout day with a two-run single, while Gene Trujillo stayed red-hot, collecting multiple hits and driving in key runs. By the end of Saturday, New Mexico had piled up 17 hits and 14 runs across the two games—an offensive surge that proved too much for Fresno State to overcome.
The sweep marked the Lobos’ first series win over the Bulldogs since 2023 and underscored their growing confidence in conference play.
Sunday Chaos: Lobos Battle to 18-18 Tie
If Saturday was about control, Sunday was pure chaos.
In a game that featured 36 combined runs, 38 hits, and constant momentum swings, New Mexico and Fresno State battled through 10 innings before travel constraints forced an 18-18 tie—an outcome as rare as it was fitting for such a wild contest.
The Lobos found themselves chasing late but refused to fold.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Waslefsky once again came through in a clutch moment, delivering an RBI single to tie the game and force extra innings. New Mexico managed to keep Fresno State off the board in the 10th, but couldn’t push across the winning run, leaving the game suspended in a statistical deadlock.
The offensive numbers were staggering.
Akili Carris led the charge with a career-high four hits, while Waslefsky scored four runs and drove in three. Anthony Diaz added three runs scored and two RBI, and multiple Lobos contributed multi-hit performances in a relentless team effort. In total, New Mexico drew 11 walks and consistently found ways to keep innings alive.
One of the biggest swings came from Lenny Junior Ashby, who launched a go-ahead grand slam in the middle innings—a moment that briefly swung momentum back to the Lobos in a game that never stayed still for long.
Castillo Earns Weekly Honors
Following his pivotal role in Saturday’s series-clinching win, Ryan Castillo was recognized as Mountain West Pitcher of the Week.
The junior right-hander delivered six shutout innings, allowing just four hits while striking out five. He consistently avoided trouble, not allowing an extra-base hit and limiting Fresno State’s opportunities to advance runners into scoring position.
It marks the second weekly honor of his career and reflects his emergence as a cornerstone of the Lobos’ pitching staff.
Softball: Lobos Secure Historic Series Win Over Aztecs
It wasn’t just baseball making noise over the weekend.
New Mexico softball delivered a breakthrough of its own, sweeping Saturday’s doubleheader against San Diego State to secure its first series win over the Aztecs since 2018.
Big Innings Define the Day
Both wins followed a similar blueprint: explosive third innings that swung control firmly in New Mexico’s favor.
In Game One, the Lobos erupted for six runs in the third, fueled by a three-run home run from Allie Williams and a two-run blast from Jasmyn Lloyd—her first career hit and home run. That offensive outburst powered a 9-5 victory and showcased the depth of New Mexico’s lineup.
Game Two required more resilience.
Each time San Diego State scored, the Lobos answered. A three-run third inning proved decisive, with timely hitting and aggressive baserunning helping New Mexico maintain control in a 7-4 win. Gabrielle Briones added a two-run home run later in the game to provide crucial insurance.
In the circle, Arianna Capek, Caprice Barela, and Caitlin Benningfield combined to manage the pressure, with Benningfield closing out Game Two to secure the sweep.
Sunday Setback
The Lobos couldn’t complete the sweep, falling 10-3 in Sunday’s finale despite an early two-run home run from Miracle McKenzie.
San Diego State responded with eight unanswered runs, capitalizing on key opportunities to pull away late. Still, the series win marked a significant step forward for New Mexico, particularly given the historical struggles against the Aztecs.
Tennis: Close Battles Against Ranked Opponents
The scoreboard may not reflect it, but New Mexico tennis continues to show fight against elite competition.
The men’s team dropped a 4-0 decision to a ranked Utah State squad, with the doubles point coming down to narrow tiebreakers that ultimately swung in the Aggies’ favor.
Against Boise State, the Lobos pushed a nationally ranked opponent to the brink in a heated 4-3 loss. Short-handed due to injuries, New Mexico battled through controversy in doubles and split singles matches, forcing a dramatic finish that ultimately slipped away in the final match.
On the women’s side, the Lobos faced a gauntlet of ranked competition.
They fell 4-0 to San Diego State despite competitive individual performances and later dropped a 4-1 decision to Grand Canyon after securing the doubles point. Across both matches, New Mexico showed flashes of competitiveness but struggled to close out singles play against top-tier opponents.
Golf: Falleur Leads Lobos to Podium Finish
New Mexico men’s golf delivered one of its strongest performances of the season at The Goodwin.
Led by Mesa Falleur, who captured the individual title with a 12-under performance, the Lobos finished third in a stacked 30-team field that included some of the nation’s top programs.
Falleur’s final-round 66 sealed his second win of the season and placed him among an elite group in program history. As a team, New Mexico finished at 10-under, showcasing consistency and resilience against one of the most competitive fields in college golf.
Track & Field: Historic Honors for Samuel, Kosgei
On the track, New Mexico continues to build a national reputation for excellence.
Habtom Samuel and Pamela Kosgei were both named Mountain West Indoor Student-Athletes of the Year, marking the first time since 2010 that the Lobos have swept both honors.
Samuel capped a historic season with a national title in the 5,000 meters and remained undefeated in the event throughout the indoor campaign. Kosgei matched that dominance on the women’s side, earning All-America honors and finishing among the nation’s best in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meters.
Together, the duo accounted for 40 points at the conference championships and delivered standout performances on the national stage.
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