What are UNM football assistants set to make this season?
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After leading New Mexico to the program’s best (and most well-attended) season in years, head coach Jason Eck received a new five-year deal with a tidy $400,000 raise in December.
A few Lobo assistants got similar treatment — albeit at a smaller scale.
Three of UNM’s coaches received raises, per contracts available on the athletic department’s website, bringing the program’s on-field staff salary pool to $2,070,000.
UNM’s staff salary pool last season was $2,040,000. All of UNM’s assistants are on one-year deals with uniform incentives tied to team performance.
Defensive line coach Hebron Fangupo received the biggest raise, boosting his compensation from $150,000 to $165,000. The former Idaho assistant and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman led a room that keyed UNM’s league-best run defense (112.8 yards per game) and sack total (36) in his first year with the program
Offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner and safeties coach Clay Bignell each received $10,000 raises, increasing their salaries to $385,000 and $130,000, respectively. Schleusner’s offense averaged 27.1 points per game (sixth in the Mountain West) while Bignell’s safeties consistently produced despite injuries.
Outside of Eck, Schleusner is now the highest-paid coach on UNM’s staff.
“We have a pretty high spread between our highest-paid guys on the staff and our lowest-paid guys on the staff,” Eck said in an interview with the Journal earlier this month. “And I want that systematically, because if you can keep your coordinators in place, you know, it keeps the overall system.”
Defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky ($375,000), offensive line coach Cody Booth ($165,000), cornerbacks coach Stanley Franks Jr. ($150,000) and linebackers coach Nate Palmer ($85,000) did not receive raises on their new deals.
Two of UNM’s new hires — associate head coach and tight ends coach Zach Lujan ($160,000) and wide receivers coach Carson Walch ($160,000) — are set to make a combined $95,000 more than their predecessors. Former tight ends coach Jared Elliott and receivers coach Colin Lockett made $115,000 and $110,000, respectively.
New special teams coordinator Erik Link ($175,000) and running backs coach Darrius G. Smith ($120,000) will make less than their predecessors, Daniel Da Prato ($250,000) and John Johnson ($145,000), respectively.
Elliott (Illinois), Lockett (UCLA), Da Prato (Minnesota) and Johnson (Iowa State) all left for jobs at Power Four programs this offseason.
Pro day participants
UNM will host two Cowboys at its pro day Monday.
New Mexico Highlands safety Trevor Romaldo and offensive lineman Joe Taase will test alongside 17 Lobos as part of UNM’s annual pro day, a showcase for NFL scouts.
Romaldo made 45 total tackles and seven interceptions as a senior with Highlands last season while Ta’ase — a Melbourne, Australia native — appeared in all 11 games last year with the Cowboys.
The list of Lobos scheduled to participate in Monday’s testing:
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RB Damon Bankston
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OL Nevell Brown
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WR Michael Buckley
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S Caleb Coleman
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K Luke Drzewiecki
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DL Keyshawn James-Newby
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CB Jon Johnson
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WR Keagan Johnson
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OL Mason Jones
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DL Brett Karhu
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QB James Laubstein
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CB Azariah Levels
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S Ky'Won McCray
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OL Israel Mukwiza
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S Albert Nunes
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OL Isaiah Sillemon
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S Aaron Smith
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.
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