ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — When you are an athletic department on a college campus, setting records is always a pretty neat thing. UNM set one recently with 189 Mountain West Academic All-Conference selections. UNM also set one with 34 conference championships in the last four years. However, this last record setting performance is going to be a little hard to top.
UNM Athletics, the UNM Foundation and the Lobo Club have announced that the department has achieved a new record for fundraising, bringing in $14,755,768 for the 2014-15 fiscal year. The total is $700,000 more than the previous record high for a fiscal year, which was $14,050,000 for the 2007-08 fiscal year.
The Lobo Club and the athletic department recorded 9,093 gift transactions in 2014-15, over 25% of the transactions for the entire university.
UNM athletics announced major gifts this year on behalf of WisePies Pizza and Salad to rename University Arena WisePies Arena aka The Pit for the next 10 years. UNM also had a major announcement with U.S. Bank to name the U.S. Bank End Zone Club and U.S. Bank Club Level at University Stadium and the U.S. Bank Club and Suite Level at WisePies Arena aka The Pit.
“We are extremely appreciative of the support that we receive from what I have always said are the best fans in America,” said Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs. “What is gratifying is that we have tangible evidence that our fundraising efforts are paying off. We lead the Mountain West in academic honors, NCAA Tournament appearances and championships. Our student-athletes have logged over 7,000 hours of community service annually. Every dollar makes a difference.”
New Mexico this past season won conference championships in men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s indoor track & field and women’s indoor track and field, and UNM finished second in baseball, women’s golf and women’s basketball. UNM also nearly won its second national championship in school history, finishing third in women’s cross country and fifth in skiing.
“Congratulations to Lobo Athletics on a record year of fundraising. This high level of fundraising is really a tribute to Paul Krebs, Tim Cass, the Lobo Club staff and Board of Directors, coaching staffs from all sports and especially the individual donors,” said Vice President of University Development Larry Ryan. “There are so many loyal Lobo Club members from all different levels that contribute to the great success of Lobo Athletics”
Fans can join the Lobo Club by visiting the offices at the Colleen J. Maloof Administration Building, or visiting unmloboclub.com and joining the Lobo Club for as little as $50. Contributions get fans special deals on parking, premium seating and other great perks.
In addition, season tickets for the 2015 football season start at $96 per adult, that’s $13.71 per game. This year’s schedule includes seven exciting home games beginning on September 5 against Mississippi Valley State. When you purchase your Lobo football season tickets, you are helping to support all of our 450 student-athletes here at UNM. For more information on 2015 Lobo Football season ticket options, please click here.