The University of New Mexico rewarded one of its most successful coaches this week, while several other Lobo programs continued to build momentum following a banner 2025-26 athletic season.
From a contract extension for men’s golf coach Jake Harrington to national honors for the track and field programs, additions in softball and men’s tennis, and future scheduling for women’s basketball, it was another busy week across Lobo Athletics.
Harrington Agrees to Five-Year Extension
After guiding New Mexico men’s golf back among the nation’s elite, head coach Jake Harrington will remain in Albuquerque for years to come.
Vice President and Director of Athletics Ryan Berryman announced that Harrington has signed a new five-year contract that runs through the 2030-31 season, extending the tenure of the coach who has quickly elevated the Lobos into consistent NCAA contenders.
Since arriving before the 2023-24 season, Harrington has led New Mexico to three consecutive NCAA Regional appearances and two NCAA Championship berths while compiling four team tournament victories and seven individual medalists. The 2023-24 Mountain West Coach of the Year has also coached eight All-Mountain West selections, including All-Americans Bastien Amat and Mesa Falleur.
The Lobos finished the 2025-26 season ranked No. 26 nationally, their highest year-end ranking in more than a decade. Along the way, New Mexico captured team titles at The Wohali and the ASU Thunderbird Collegiate while producing four individual tournament champions, the program’s highest total since 2013-14.
Harrington credited the university and the Albuquerque community for making the extension an easy decision, saying New Mexico has become home for his family and that he looks forward to continuing to build a championship-caliber program.
Communications and Marketing Teams Earn National Recognition
The success at New Mexico extended beyond the playing fields as multiple members of the athletic department were honored nationally for their work.
The Lobo Communications Office collected two awards at the Collegiate Sports Communicators Unite Convention.
Associate Athletic Director for Communications Frank Mercogliano earned fifth place nationally for overall football game notes and finished second among Football Bowl Subdivision entries for his Rate Bowl media guide materials. Director of Creative Services Jonathan Tibbetts was also recognized, earning national honors for his graphic commemorating Jake Hall’s Mountain West freshman scoring record.
Meanwhile, the Lobo Marketing staff returned from the National Association of Collegiate Marketers of America Convention with four awards.
New Mexico earned three Gold Awards for Affinity Group Marketing, Year-Over-Year Revenue Increase and Game Day Promotion, while also receiving a Silver Award for its “Real Ones” fundraising campaign.
The marketing campaign surrounding football’s 57.1 percent attendance increase, the popular “Kids Free” initiative, affordable concession pricing, Louie Lane tailgating experience and the retro-themed basketball games all played major roles in the department’s national recognition.
Cross Country / Track & Field
Lobos Finish Fourth in National Program of the Year Standings
New Mexico’s cross country and track & field programs continued to cement themselves among the nation’s elite after both the men’s and women’s teams finished fourth in the USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings.
The combined result marked the highest finish in school history.
The men’s program improved its national standing for the third consecutive year after placing eighth in 2024 and seventh in 2025, while the women posted their best finish since ending as national runners-up in 2019.
The award recognizes year-long excellence across cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field championships.
The Lobo men highlighted the year with a national runner-up finish in cross country before placing 19th indoors and 14th outdoors. The women finished fourth nationally in cross country, tied for 10th indoors and concluded the outdoor championships in 12th place.
Samuel, Jepngetich and Gauson Receive Mountain Region Honors
The postseason accolades continued for New Mexico following the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Habtom Samuel was named the USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men’s Track Athlete of the Year after completing one of the most dominant championship performances in collegiate history. Samuel swept the NCAA outdoor 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter titles, becoming just the 15th athlete to complete the distance double and the first since 2023.
Marion Jepngetich earned Mountain Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year honors after capturing her first NCAA individual championship in the 5,000 meters with a personal-best performance of 15:13.01.
Head coach Darren Gauson was selected as the Mountain Region Women’s Coach of the Year for the second consecutive outdoor season after guiding the Lobos to another top-15 national finish.
The honors capped a season in which both New Mexico programs ranked among the nation’s best from cross country through the outdoor championships.
Softball Adds Experienced Infielder
New Mexico softball strengthened its infield depth for the 2027 season by signing transfer Emerson Meggers.
The incoming senior arrives after spending last season at Abilene Christian, where she started 46 games while demonstrating versatility across the infield and throughout the batting order.
Meggers hit .244 with 30 hits, including seven doubles, three triples and three home runs, while also leading the Wildcats with 18 walks.
Prior to Abilene Christian, the Vacaville, California native spent two seasons at Utah State, giving her valuable Mountain West experience.
Head coach Nicole Orgeron praised Meggers’ maturity, versatility and competitive mindset, noting she provides both experience and additional depth for a roster that returns 16 players from last season while welcoming five incoming freshmen.
Men’s Tennis Adds Familiar Face
Men’s tennis also strengthened its roster through the transfer portal with the addition of senior Maximillian “Max” Relic.
Relic reunites with head coach Rob Bareford after previously playing for him at Montana State before spending last fall at Utah.
During his freshman season under Bareford, Relic earned All-Big Sky honors in singles while competing at the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles.
At Utah, the London native compiled a 6-2 singles record and 9-2 doubles mark during fall competition before electing to transfer.
Relic said Bareford’s culture and championship aspirations made New Mexico an easy choice as the Lobos pursue a fifth Mountain West title since 2019.
Women’s Basketball Adds Portland Series
The women’s basketball program also finalized another piece of its future non-conference schedule.
The Lobos announced a home-and-home series with Portland beginning Dec. 21, 2026, in Albuquerque. The return game will be played during the 2027-28 season in Oregon.
The matchup marks just the third all-time meeting between the schools and the first since 1994.
Portland joins BYU as the second announced non-conference opponent for New Mexico’s 2026-27 schedule.
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