Jeff Nelson’s Contract Will Not Be Renewed

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — University of New Mexico Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez has announced that the contract for volleyball coach Jeff Nelson, which expires in January of 2019, will not be renewed, and that a national search will commence for the 10^th volleyball coach in Lobo history.
 
“We appreciate Jeff’s dedication and 12 years of service in leading our volleyball program,” said Nuñez.  “However, I have decided that in the best interest of the program, we needed to make a change and have new leadership. We wish Coach Nelson all the best in his future endeavors.”
 
Additionally, Nuñez announced that Pauline Manser will remain with the program through the transition and will be the interim beach volleyball coach for the 2019 season.  “Pauline will provide great leadership for the team for the remainder of the season,” said Nuñez.

The Lobos had top three finishes three times in Nelson’s first four seasons, but the team finished as high as third just once in his final eight seasons.  The program has finished exactly .500 in each of the last three seasons, going 16-16 in both 2016 and 2017, and 15-15 last season.  UNM didn’t finish higher than seventh in any of those seasons.
 
Prior to UNM, Nelson also had head coaching stops at Texas Tech (1995-2002) and San Francisco (2003-06).