Michael Lopez Promoted to Associate HC
New Mexico Baseball’s Michael Lopez has been promoted to Associate Head Coach ahead of the 2025-26 academic year, Head Coach Tod Brown announced on Monday.
Lopez, who joined the Lobos ahead of the 2021-22 season that was also Brown’s first as Head Coach, will continue to coordinate UNM’s pitching staff in his new role. In each of the previous three seasons, the Lobos have improved their win total and win percentage year-to-year, most recently going 30-23 and punching their ticket to the Mountain West Tournament for the second year in a row.
“Michael has been a crucial part of what we’re building in Albuquerque,” said UNM Head Coach Tod Brown. “It’s a well-deserved promotion for one of the best young pitching coaches in the country.”
In 2025, Lopez’ pitching staff struck out 394 batters in total for the second year in a row — the seventh-most in a single season in program history and most since 2019 — while racking up 15 saves, the third-most in program history and most since 2016. LHP Daxton Purser was named to the All-MW Second Team, becoming the first Lobo pitcher to earn all-league honors since Justin Armbruester in 2021.
In Lopez’ third year in 2024, UNM’s staff struck out 394 batters and collected 10 saves, also the most since 2019. They finished the season with the most wins (28) since 2017 with a No. 2 seed in the MW Tournament, finishing one game away from a regular season championship.
In the second season with Lopez coordinating UNM’s pitching, the team’s ERA improved from 9.06 to 5.95 — UNM’s lowest since 2016. UNM pitchers under Lopez also posted their lowest WHIP (1.59) since 2015 and fewest walks per nine innings (3.20) since 2014 in the process, with RHP Isaac Gallegos selected in the 2023 MLB Draft following the season’s completion.
Prior to his tenure in Albuquerque, Lopez served as head coach at Howard Community College in Big Spring, Texas after spending three years as an assistant coach under the previous head coach, Rob Martinez. During his time at Howard College, Lopez accumulated a 48-19 overall record as head coach and had over 40 players sign with Division I schools, three players sign contracts with professional teams, and three more selected as NJCAA All-Americans.
Lopez originally came to Howard after a one-year stint with a brand-new NAIA program, Marymount California University (MCU). During his one year at MCU, Lopez was named the associate head coach and helped with day-to-day recruiting.
In the first year of the program, Lopez helped the Mariners win the CAL PAC Conference Championship and reach the 2016 West Grouping Championship. Lopez had three players selected to the 2016 All-California Pacific Conference Team while also coaching the CAL PAC conference player of the year and the CAL PAC Freshman of the year.
Prior to coaching at Marymount California University, Lopez was the volunteer assistant coach for two seasons at the University of Arizona under head coach Andy Lopez. Lopez assisted with the pitchers during practices and helped run the bullpen during games. Off the field, his job consisted of preparing scouting reports on opposing teams, directing the Andy Lopez Baseball Camp, and assisting with recruiting.
Lopez’s collegiate career in baseball includes four years (2009-2012) at the University of Arizona. Lopez was named captain of the 2012 team, which won the NCAA National Championship in Omaha, Nebraska.