-= NMSU PANORAMA - Summer 2005 =- Aggie Sports: A New Era for Aggie Athletics

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This department contains multiple stories. Please make a selection:
› A New Era for Aggie Athletics
› Honors Pour in for Retired Basketball Coach Lou Henson
› Three Join the Citizen's Bank/NMSU Athletics Hall of Fame

A New Era for Aggie Athletics

By Rachel Gallagher

McKinley Boston

Before McKinley Boston began his post as director of athletics in December, he knew athletics at New Mexico State University would never be the same - a change he welcomed.

Now, with new basketball and football coaches in place, and a renewed commitment to the community, NMSU athletics has stepped into a new era.

"We see ourselves as part of the front porch of the university or a window by which many people look at the university," Boston says. "We need to make sure that everything we do is done in a first-class manner and my intention is to run an athletic program consistent with that mandate."

For Boston, entering the Western Athletic Conference in July, graduating more student-athletes and competing for national championships are integral parts of that mandate. Building community partnerships, he says, is equally important. In the fall, Boston plans to implement a program in which athletes must give 15 hours community service each year as part of team membership. He estimates the 350 NMSU athletes donating their time will have an annual economic impact of more than $30,000 in Las Cruces.

"We want our community to understand that we (our coaches and student-athletes) appreciate their support and at the same time, we want them to know that we are giving back," Boston says.

Boston hopes building stronger community ties and offering enhanced entertainment value will translate to larger home crowds and more financial support.

Hal Mumme

"That's part of our strategy at all games - you're not just attending a game, you're attending a happening that includes a game," he says. "You can't have great entertainment value without having people in the stands because part of the ambiance of competition is the players playing and the fans cheering."

Boston is confident the additions of Hal Mumme as head football coach and Reggie Theus as head men's basketball coach also will benefit NMSU.

Mumme previously served as head coach for Division 1-AA Southeastern Louisiana, where he helped revive the football program in only two seasons. He also served as head coach at Kentucky, Valdosta State and Iowa Wesleyan.

"Hal has coached at the highest level possible and has demonstrated his ability to win," Boston says. "He has taken teams where we want to take our teams - to bowl games. Equally as important, he understands what being a major college/university athletic program is about."

Like Boston, Mumme welcomes the changes in NMSU athletics, especially moving to the WAC. He says the leadership of NMSU President Michael Martin and Boston has propelled those changes.

"They are committed to excellence and that's important to me," Mumme says.

Mumme says building a strong support base for NMSU athletics is essential.

"I think the Aggie nation needs to rally," Mumme says. "They need to understand what's taking place down here.understand that finally after all these years of wanting to get in the WAC we're there and this is our window to make the most of it. We need everyone to get on board and everyone can help in some way."

Reggie Theus

Thirteen-year NBA veteran and two-time NBA All-Star Reggie Theus spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville under head coach Rick Pitino, where he helped guide the Cardinals to the Final Four for the first time since their national title run in 1986.

"Reggie has experienced the big time," Boston says. "He knows what quality in a collegiate athletic basketball program should be. I don't have to explain to him what I mean when I say we want to compete at the highest level possible because he's been there."

Theus, who replaces retired head coach Lou Henson, decided NMSU was moving in the right direction as well.

"When you talk about what attracted me to New Mexico State basketball, I think you can sell the future of the program," Theus says. "Everyone from President Martin to Dr. Boston to the faculty are all on the same page and everyone wants to get back to where Aggie basketball was in the early 1990s."

2005 Football Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT
Sept. 3	UTEP
Sept. 10	at Colorado
Sept. 17	at New Mexico
Sept. 23	California
Oct. 1	at Louisiana Tech*
Oct. 8	Fresno State*
Oct. 15	at Hawaii*
Oct. 29	Idaho*/Homecoming
Nov.5	at Boise State*
Nov. 12	Nevada*
Nov. 19	at San Jose State*
Nov. 26	Utah State*
*WAC games
For details and other sports schedules, visit http://nmstatesports.com/

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