Endowment for Lobo Football Established with Lead Gift
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — There has been a wave of momentum with the Lobo Football program, starting just over a year ago with the announcement of alum and Albuquerque native Danny Gonzales as head coach. It continued through the offseason with an exciting recruiting class and the return of some legendary names to the coaching staff including fan favorites Rocky Long and Jason Lenzmeier.
UNM kept the ball rolling with an exciting football season that saw UNM lead the Mountain West in turnover margin as the Lobos ended the season with a two-game winning streak. The team has quickly regained its former reputation of a team that will bring intensity for all 60 minutes.
Now with Gonzales’ first season in the books capped by the program’s first-ever national award winner and a second highly-touted recruiting class in tow, the momentum is not just moving forward, it’s gaining speed. Today, it gained another gear.
The Diana and Chet Stewart Football Excellence Fund has been established to allow for more targeted athletic and academic success. The fund, which mirrors a similar excellence fund that was established in July for Lobo Basketball, was kickstarted with a major gift from Diana and Chet Stewart.
The Stewart’s gift will specifically support recruiting, nutrition, and player development for Lobo Football, and it is the lead gift that has helped to establish the Diana and Chet Stewart Football Excellence Fund. For the Stewart’s the timing couldn’t be better with Lobo Football on the rise.
“We love our University and believe that an excellent football program will help our Flagship University become even more successful,” said Chet Stewart. “We believe that Danny Gonzales, whose hometown is Albuquerque and is a former Lobo, is the right person to lead our team and bring great success to our football program, just as Rocky Long did in the past.”
Chet also is looking forward to the fund growing to allow Lobo Football to continue to grow and make an impact in the Land of Enchantment.
“We believe that college sports greatly impact and create life-changing educational opportunities for the athletes who participate. It also helps to build bridges of hope and understanding in a world that is greatly divided,” said Stewart.
Despite the challenges of the 2020 season, UNM improved each week and won its final two games. In January, Teton Saltes was named the winner of the Wuerffel Trophy, given to the student-athlete who showcases community service along with athletic and academic excellence.
“I’m very appreciative of Diana and Chet Stewart for this amazing gesture for our program,” said head coach Danny Gonzales. “I’ve said it all along, if we want to be successful and be the kind of program that we all want Lobo Football to become, it is going to take EVERYBODY to get it done, and that’s what this is. This is how we can grow our program and make Lobo Football a source of pride for all New Mexicans.”
“Diana and Chet Stewart believe in the type of program that we, and Coach Gonzales are building, and they have already seen the culture change within the department and our program,” said Director of Athletic Eddie Nuñez. “I’ve gotten the chance to know them over my time as Athletic Director and I’m so thankful for the friendship and stewardship in this lead gift towards the Diana and Chet Stewart Football Excellence Fund”.
For more information, and to contribute to the Diana and Chet Stewart Football Excellence Fund, contact Jalen Dominguez, Senior Associate Athletic Director and Executive Director of the Lobo Club via email at jalen@unm.edu or by phone at 505-925-5014.