Reports: Eric Olen to be named New Mexico coach

Field Level Media|published: Sun 30th March, 13:18 2025

March 20, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; UC San Diego Tritons head coach Eric Olen reacts during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Eric Olen is leaving UC San Diego and will become the head basketball coach at New Mexico, multiple outlets reported Sunday.

ESPN reported Olen agreed to a five-year contract to replace Richard Pitino, who resigned Wednesday to accept the same job at Xavier.

Olen, 44, has been the head coach of the Tritons since Oct. 1, 2013, promoted following nine seasons as an assistant coach. He oversaw the program's transition to Division I, leading the Tritons to the NCAA Tournament this season in their first year of postseason eligibility at that level.

The Tritons finished the season with a 30-5 overall record and were 18-2 in the Big West, winning regular season and tournament titles. He was named the Big West Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

UC San Diego was the No. 12 seed in the South Region and narrowly lost to No. 5 Michigan, 68-65, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

As a Division I member the past five seasons, the Tritons are 81-63 under Olen.

In Division II, he had a 159-56 record and won three California Collegiate Athletic Association regular-season titles and four conference tournament crowns in seven seasons.

New Mexico finished the 2024-25 season with a 27-8 record and a regular-season Mountain West championship. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 10th-seeded New Mexico upset Marquette 75-66 before losing 71-63 to No. 2 seed Michigan State in the second round of play in the South Region.

--Field Level Media

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