Brian DeSpain was one of football coach Bob Davie’s first hires in December of 2011 and begins his eighth season with the program and his fourth as Assistant Athletic Director for Football after the previous four as Director of Operations.
With New Mexico, DeSpain handles all of the behind the scenes duties that allow the Lobo football operation to run smoothly. DeSpain serves as a liaison between the program and many campus constituents, and he works closely with UNM’s Athletic Academic Advisors on team academics.
DeSpain also aids in practice planning and managing the office personnel. He works closely with the athletic communications office on publicity and he handles all manners of budgeting, fundraising, facilities, game scheduling and compliance.
He serves as the NFL Liaison for the program, and handles all matters of student-athlete welfare. He also coordinate all team travel and handles all bowl logistics for the program.
DeSpain has served on the Mountain West Football Championship Game Committee since 2013.
DeSpain was a football operations and recruiting assistant at Texas A&M from 2008-11. He initially worked in the Texas A&M sports information department after graduating from the university in 2007 with a major in kinesiology. He received his master’s degree in higher education administration from A&M in 2010.
In three years with the Texas A&M football program, DeSpain helped the Aggies sign three consecutive national top 25 recruiting classes as well as coordinated the team’s trips to the Independence Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Texas Bowl.
Brian and his wife Audra live in Albuquerque, have a son, Beau, born in June of 2016.