Since news broke that New Mexico State would start a national search for its next athletic director, questions have been asked about the search’s nature.
Now, the university has answered some of them.
NMSU posted a statement on its decision to conduct a national AD search to its website on August 1, its first official announcement regarding the search since the Las Cruces Sun-News first reported it 39 days ago on June 23. The Sun-News has previously reported on NMSU President Valerio Ferme’s intention to begin a search, the assistance of Atlanta-based search firm Parker Executive Search in selecting an AD and the existence of a search committee that will examine and interview candidates. NMSU Chief of Staff Justin Bannister told the Albuquerque Journal on June 24 the committee would include “representation from students, faculty, staff, coaches, university administrators and community members.”
The university’s press release confirmed these details and announced that the committee will consist of the following nine members:
- NMSU Chief of Staff Justin Bannister (chairman)
- NMSU Board of Regents Chairwoman Ammu Devasthali
- Electronic Caregiver President Joe Baffoe
- Men’s basketball coach Jason Hooten
- Softball coach Kathy Rodolph
- NMSU Community Colleges Chancellor Monica Torres
- NMSU Faculty Senate Chairman Vimal Chaitanya
- Associated Students of NMSU President Wyatt Ziehe
- Athletics operations manager Joseph Almaguer
Bannister told the Sun-News on July 25 that NMSU has not yet taken any applications, but that the search has already begun “by his interpretation.” This is due to the university having officially started working with Parker Executive Search in recent days, before July 25. PES added the NMSU AD position as one of its current searches on its website this week, with the page including a place where applicants can apply.
The job description on PES’s website states: “The Director of Athletics is responsible for the leadership, management and administration of the Intercollegiate Athletic Program. The position requires considerable abilities in intercollegiate athletics management, public relations, fundraising, a keen business sense, marketing and promotion of ticket sales, integrity and an appreciation of the role athletics plays in a public university.”
NMSU also made an update to its press release shortly after publishing it that includes a SurveyMonkey link to send nominations for the position.
“As New Mexico State Aggies, we are from the desert and are hardy like the traditions of the West,” Ferme said in NMSU’s press release. “We grow fierce competitors who are not afraid to do the difficult work needed to achieve goals that ‘punch’ above the university’s weight and demonstrate the hardiness of the Aggie mentality. We are seeking individuals who enjoy the role of underdogs, both in our conference and on the national stage.”
NMSU also stated that PES visited its campus this week to “tour NMSU facilities and meet with university leaders, senior athletics staff, head coaches and other stakeholders.” Bannister told the Sun-News that PES Vice President and Managing Director Daniel Parker and PES Principal Grant Higgison were the ones who visited.
Bannister also told the Sun-News that the search committee and PES have spoken with head coaches and “senior staff” as part of “listening sessions” through both Zoom calls and in-person meetings in recent weeks. The press release states NMSU will hold additional listening sessions “with NMSU community members… in the coming weeks.” Bannister says these sessions will include university donors.
Current acting AD Amber Burdge is expected to be among the applicants and made her case for being NMSU’s permanent AD in a June 24 interview with the Sun-News that was published on July 2.
“I am excited to be a solid candidate in that search, because I’ve had 2 1/2 years of experience here,” Burdge said. “I know that I love this place. I know that I love Las Cruces. Another candidate may be researching us and say how much they can benefit us, but I can talk about having been here and falling in love with this community and this campus, and what this athletics department can do for this community and with this community.”
Ferme fired former NMSU AD Mario Moccia on January 2, his first official day as the university’s president, for cause, citing a December 2024 New Mexico Department of Justice report on scandals during the 2022-23 Aggies men’s basketball season as the primary factor behind his decision. Ferme said during a January 3 press conference that Burdge would be his acting AD for six months before “reassessing” the position, and that she had his full confidence with all the responsibilities of a permanent AD.
Burdge’s acting AD contract expired on June 30. However, she has remained the acting AD since then and will continue doing so until either she becomes NMSU’s permanent AD or someone else is hired. Burdge would become the university’s first female AD if her acting tag is removed, and a provision in her acting AD contract states she is entitled to her previous roles as NMSU’s deputy AD for strategic initiatives and leadership, its SWA and deputy Title IX coordinator should she not be selected.
Bannister says that NMSU is not rushing to complete the search before the Aggies’ football season begins on Aug. 30 against Bryant. PES’s sports page on its website states it strives to complete “executive searches” within 4-5 weeks.
“Before the football season starts would probably be pretty fast, but certainly sooner rather than later,” Bannister said. “These athletic director searches tend to go faster than other searches right at the university level. Hopefully, (we’ll hire) somebody in the coming few months.”
NMSU’s 2025-26 sports season begins on Aug. 14 when its women’s soccer team faces Colorado College at home.
This story has been updated with additional information and will continue to be updated if more information arrives.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NMSU announces additional info on its national AD search. Here’s what to know