BIRMINGHAM WORKS WHILE HE NEGOTIATES
In meantime, coach Birmingham still seeks to smooth out contract details
University of New Mexico baseball coach Ray Birmingham has put together a compelling 2019 schedule. Meanwhile, he works month to month and hasn’t yet gotten the new deal he seeks.
Some college baseball coaches prefer to front-end their schedules with cream puffs and build up early wins.
Ray Birmingham is not among them.
Birmingham, who has been working on a month-to-month contract basis as the University of New Mexico’s baseball coach since July, nonetheless has gone about the day-to-day business of preparing for 2019. That includes putting together a rugged schedule that opens with four remarkably challenging February games in Surprise, Ariz.
The Lobos play two, including their season-opener, against defending national champion Oregon State. UNM also faces 2018 NCAA Regional qualifiers Minnesota and Gonzaga in the annual tournament.
Things get a little easier from there for the Lobos, but not by much. Overall, UNM is scheduled to play 19 of its 55 games against NCAA Regional qualifiers from last season. The slate includes home series against traditional powers Cal State Fullerton, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
“It looks exciting and it looks really, really hard,” Birmingham said of the schedule. “We have a lot of new faces this year and we could have scheduled easier, but I’d rather do what I think is best in the long run. Playing a lot of quality opponents is what kids coming into our program want and it’s what the fans want to see. We’ll play the best, find out how we stack up and get better.”
UNM’s baseball program has been in transition since completing a rare down season (20-33-1) in May. Birmingham replaced his coaching staff and brought in a slew of new players, including numerous junior college transfers, who are battling for positions during the fall practice season.
It’s made for a busy offseason for Birmingham, whose most recent contract expired June 30. He is working on the month-to-month arrangement while negotiating with UNM athletic director Eddie Nuñez, who has repeatedly said he wants to retain Birmingham.
Nuñez and Birmingham met most recently last week and the veteran coach said they will meet again immediately after the fall season concludes. The Lobos play their annual Cherry-Silver series this coming Tuesday through Nov. 3 and then break until spring practice opens in January.
“I still think we’re going to figure it out,” Birmingham said of his contract negotiations.
Birmingham said UNM has offered him a contract for the three-year term he is seeking but the sides have not yet come together on financial terms. He declined to discuss specifics but said the numbers are “close.”
Birmingham, who took over UNM’s baseball program prior to the 2008 season, said he believes a three-year contract will allow him to complete improvements at Santa Ana Star Field. The Lobos’ home facility has been upgraded with new turf, seating, scoreboard, lights and the $2.4 million R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard Clubhouse during Birmingham’s tenure. Expanded and covered seating along with press box improvements are necessary if UNM is to host NCAA Regional competition.
For now, finalizing a head coach’s contract is the lone hurdle to be cleared prior to next season. Birmingham said enough money has been raised to fund the program’s annual budget and he feels good about recent recruits who have committed to New Mexico.
“We’ve had a good fall and we’re getting back to where Lobo baseball should be,” he said. “We’ll play some really good teams and try to have some fun next season. I think we can pull it off.”