ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- University of New Mexico head men’s tennis coach Rob Bareford has announced that Juan Jose Neira Rodriguez will join the squad for the 2026-27 season.
Neira, a native of Bogota, Colombia, reached a ranking of 302 in the ITF last year, and his national ranking in Colombia for U18 was No. 5 in July of 2025. His UTR is 12.10.
In 2025, he participated in the qualifying rounds of the Challenger 50 Bogota, the J300 Barranquilla, and the J300 Medellin, all large tournaments in Colombia.
In 2024, he won the doubles title at both the J60 Armenia and the J60 Anapoima, and he was also the singles runner-up at the J60 Anapoima.
He also won a gold medal in mixed doubles with Daniela Valentina Tijaro at the 2024 National Youth Games.
Said Bareford of Neira, “Juan brings with him tremendous international experience, and he has played a high-level of tennis for several years. He will be able to come in and compete from the start as a freshman, and he will be able to adapt to the college game seamlessly.”
The Lobos have the weekend off before hosting the Jack Kennedy Classic on March 6, hosting Denver at 11 am and Lubbock Christian at 3 pm.