Weir to take over as AD at D-II Eastern New Mexico
Former Lobos coach begins job on Monday
PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University has named Paul Weir its athletic director.
Weir, fired this past season as the head men’s basketball coach at New Mexico, starts the job officially on Monday. An introductory press conference will be held Wednesday at the Ballroom of the Campus Union at ENMU-Portales.
“This great state of New Mexico has given me a personal and professional life one can only dream of,” Weir said in a statement from ENMU, an NCAA Division II school. “For the past 14 years, I have had the pleasure of serving at two incredible state institutions and I am humbled by being provided the opportunity at a third. To be able to segue into a key leadership position at the thirdlargest four-year university in New Mexico could not have come at a more perfect time and place in my life.”
Weir acknowledged to the Journal last month that his years of service in state higher education and the potential retirement benefits of sticking out a few more years working in the field would be factors in deciding on what career path he’d take next.
ENMU did not on Thursday reveal Weir’s employment terms. He is owed a $490,000 buyout over the next two years from UNM, and the ENMU job will not mitigate that buyout.
Weir holds three master’s degrees and completed his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership Administration from New Mexico State while coaching the rival Lobos.
The Toronto native coached at NMSU for 10 years — nine as an assistant, one as a head coach — followed by his four seasons at UNM. He was 58-63 at UNM after a 28-6 season as Aggies head coach. He is an adjunct faculty member for UNM’s Anderson School of Management.
“Dr. Weir brings wide knowledge of New Mexico, athletics, operations, fundraising and community partnerships to his new role at Eastern,” ENMU President Patrice Caldwell said. “His educational background also makes him uniquely able to inform strategic planning efforts for Athletics and for the University.”