It all began with the September 20th scuffle between UNM head football coach Mike Locksley and former assistant coach J.B. Gerald. Statements said an argument over football plays resulted in Locksley lunging at Gerald. Locksley was initially verbally reprimanded by the university and later placed on a ten-day suspension.

A month after Eyewitness News 4’s record’s request, the university did provide emails that had been sent out by Krebs during the time he was dealing with the media swarm.

In one email to a media consultant, Krebs writes about an October 13th ESPN article that broke the news about Locksley’s suspension: “Story broke on ESPN. Not sure how or where the leak came from as none of my staff knew except Greg [Remington] and Kurt.”

Krebs asks the consultant, “Any last minute advice? Feel like he may take me down with him.”

In another email sent to the same consultant, Krebs writes, “It is incredible how many people are using this as an opportunity to bash Mike [Locksley] and taking shots about everything about him.”

The emails also reveal an effort to get J.B. Gerald to speak about the incident. Nine days after the scuffle, athletics spokesman Greg Remington wrote to Krebs, “J.B. coming forward and saying something [positive] would sure soothe the situation.”

Krebs responded, “Suggest you try and reach out to him.”

Also among the emails is criticism about a sports reporter with The Daily Lobo school newspaper, Isaac Avilucea, who requested Locksley’s phone records and text messages. Associate director of athletics, Richard Pickering, writes to Krebs, “I just want to be careful dealing with Isaac because we know he will be subjective in his reporting and will look to portray us in a negative light.”

Krebs responds, “If we have to release them, we will. No way to spin numbers.”

Avilucea calls the “subjective” reference conjecture aimed at trivializing the true issue.

Eyewitness News 4 also requested emails sent out by UNM coach Locksley. We were told by the university that no sent emails exist from the coach.

Attempts were made to get comments from the university regarding this story, but calls and emails to the athletic department were not returned.

Read the UNM emails released to Eyewitness News 4

• New Mexico finished the season 1-11, its worst record since the 1980’s. Many of those losses were blowouts.
• Coach Locksley admitted striking an assistant coach during a “physical altercation”.
• As of 10-10-09, Locksley had been blown out in 5 out of 6 games.
• Loss at home to undermanned and less talented NMSU squad.
• Poor leadership and example for student athletes — physical violence in the workplace.
• Talented recruiting class not yet in the works, despite Locksley’s supposed expertise as recruiter.
• Rapid decline in football game attendance, and general apathy toward program under Locksley.
• Segment by ESPN Outside the Lines alleges cover up and previous anger management issues.
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Despite big promises and big words, University of New Mexico Lobo head football coach Mike Locksley delivered only a single victory in 2009, at a cost of $750,000 to the taxpayers of New Mexico. That’s right, $750,000 per victory — what a bargain. The Lobos finished near the bottom of the NCAA in most important offensive and defensive statistical categories — so much for Locksley’s bragging assertion that another number would need to be added to the scoreboard — if it was needed, it was needed on the opposing team’s side this year. Coach Locksley was hit with an EEOC complaint earlier in 2009 that has now been settled, with his former employee being given a newly created, higher-paying position, back pay, lifetime season tickets to UNM sporting events, and an undisclosed, behind the scenes settlement. Coach Mike Locksley has admitted to striking assistant coach J.B. Gerald in a “physical altercation”, and it appears possible that this incident may result in a lawsuit against UNM, as Coach Gerald has opted to leave the team, and retain an attorney. Locksley has also failed to land the recruits he could supposedly deliver, losing two of his top three recruits in 2009 to their failure to qualify. Another one of Locksley’s highly touted recruits briefly left the program and returned because of the controversy surrounding the gerald situation.

The University of New Mexico pays Coach Mike Locksley $750,000 annually, or approximately $14,423.08 per week. Has Coach Mike Locksley done anything to demonstrate that he is qualified to be a head football coach at this level? Is Mike Locksley representative of the values of the University of New Mexico Lobos, or the state of New Mexico? Does he really deserve this kind of money, based on performance, or should the University of New Mexico have terminated him for cause when they had the opportunity to do so? We feel the answer is a resounding “yes”, based on his record, performance, and behavior. Mike Locksley was a very bad hire.

The taxpayers of New Mexico and fans of University of New Mexico Lobo football deserve more coaching and more integrity for their money. It is time to recognize the mistake made by Paul Krebs in hiring Coach Locksley, and sever ties with Coach Locksley, before the program suffers irreparable damage. New Mexico Lobo football cannot survive 5 more years of Mike Locksley, and this style of management, or lack of coaching ability. Our student athletes deserve better leadership.