New Mexico found its successor for Xavier-bound Richard Pitino in the form of UC San Diego head coach Eric Olen, according to ESPN’s Eric Thamel.
Olen guided UC San Diego to the 2025 NCAA Tournament in its first year of eligibility and amassed a 51-17 record across the last two seasons with the program. The Tritons went 18-2 this year and won the Big West Conference tournament to secure an automatic bid.
Olen spent 12 seasons as head coach at UC San Diego after nine years as an assistant with the program.
The Tritons were narrowly defeated by Michigan 68-65 in their first-ever March Madness following a four-year transitionary period.
The Lobos reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons. They most recently bowed out in the second round at the hands of Michigan State after topping Marquette in the first round.
