After seeing the University of New Mexico Lobo men’s basketball team miss March Madness, the football Head Coach Jason Eck and basketball Head Coach Eric Olen made the decision to swap sports. UNM Director of Athletics Ryan Berryman said the change could bring a new era in Lobo sports, winning conference championships in both basketball and football.
“We are always looking for ways to improve our athletics department. And at this point it’s like, whatever, go for it. If Eck thinks we can coach basketball better, let him try. Olen wants to do football? Sure,” Berryman said. “If a ‘Freaky Friday’ body swap is what we need, then let’s do it. We have the budget.”
Eck said the basketball team should be more physical during games, not taking more three point shots and continue to drive to the basket, no matter the cost. It was not an easy transition. When they do not have the ball, they would like to be a hard hitting team to create steals and turnovers. A change for his coaching philosophy was finding a way to expand the amount of active players on gameday in case they draw more fouls, Eck said.
“Hit ‘em. Foul is just another word for game bird, and what are we, chicken?” Eck said. “Anything is a contact sport if you really want it. That’s what I tell my daughter for cheer practice, and it’s what I’m gonna tell my new basketball boys.”
Olen said it was a different approach to football.
“We have to see more motion with the ball. None of these boys can dribble. They keep saying ‘It’s because of the shape of the ball’ and ‘that’s against the rules.’ I want them to be better at that, certainly,” Olen said.
The Lobos would see more multiple pass plays during games including multiple lateral passes to confuse defenses.
On defense, Olen wanted to recruit very tall players in the secondary. You had to be at least 6-foot-8 to play as a corner or safety as he wanted big people or rebounders to be able to get interceptions. When it comes to style of defense, they decided on more of a zone style play to let the offense come to them, and keep what is in front of them.
“Our goal at the end of the day is to get back to winning. Basketball and football might be first, but golf, soccer and chess are soon to follow. Let’s have baseball Head Coach Tod Brown coach mock trial. Screw it,” Berryman said.
Alex Joe is a freelance videographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
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