UNM’S BIRMINGHAM WANTS ‘TO FINISH THIS’
Coach and UNM aim to extend deal
The University of New Mexico baseball coach, at age 62, is at the end of a contract and has options beyond this season. But his preference is to continue building Lobo baseball.
Ray Birmingham says he’s not satisfied. Not yet. The University of New Mexico baseball coach will soon begin his 11th season leading the Lobos. His contract is set to expire shortly (on June 30) after the season ends.
At 62 years old and with 38 years invested in New Mexico’s educational system, Birmingham has options. He could retire at season’s end and accept a coaching job in another state (allowing him to double-dip). Or he can simply hang up his coaching spurs altogether.
Neither idea suits Birmingham.
“I want to be here to finish this,” he said. “I still want to take this program to Omaha (site of the College World Series) and I want to finish our stadium. I want to leave something that New Mexico kids can use and get excited about for a long time.”
Birmingham is coming to the end of a five-year contract extension signed in 2013. It pays a salary of $208,000 which includes more than $53,000 for media obligations, etc., and does not include performancebased bonuses or incentives.
First-year UNM athletic director Eddie Nuñez said he spent a few months getting familiar with the Lobo baseball program, and he now hopes to extend Birmingham’s contract.
“We’ve had some preliminary discussions,” Nuñez said, “and we’re working on putting (a contract offer) together. I think Ray is good for the community and good for this team. My goal is to keep him here.”
Neither Nuñez nor Birmingham would discuss terms being discussed for a potential extension, but both said they would prefer to get something settled as soon as possible.
“I don’t like to be in this position,” Nuñez said, “with a coach’s contract about to expire. I want to get it done for program stability, for recruiting and for the community.”
Birmingham has compiled a record of 341-251-2 in 10 seasons at UNM. During that span the Lobos have won or shared four regular-season Mountain West titles, won three MWC tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA Regionals five times. UNM has not advanced to a Super Regional, but prior to Birmingham’s arrival, its last NCAA Regional appearance was in 1962.
UNM’s baseball facilities also have been overhauled in recent years. The program opened a $2.4 million-dollar clubhouse in 2017 and has installed new artificial turf, lighting, a scoreboard, fencing, bleachers, press box, bathrooms and other amenities since 2013. Prior to that the Lobos played home games at Isotopes Park, but scheduling conflicts prompted Birmingham and UNM to upgrade the school’s facilities.
“He’s taken similar steps to what LSU did in building their baseball program,” said Nuñez, who was an assistant athletic director at LSU before coming to UNM. “I’ve seen pictures of what (UNM’s) facilities looked like before. Ray’s done a tremendous job pulling things together.”
Birmingham has played a lead role in fundraising for his program’s facilities, and he hopes to make further additions, including additional seating and an upgraded press box that would allow UNM to host NCAA postseason games.
Birmingham said he’s confident a contract extension will be completed at some point.
“Eddie’s been awesome about it,” he said, “and the fire inside you jumps when you know administration’s behind you. I’ve still got fire, so if UNM still wants me, let’s go.”