Sources: NMSU’s Paul Weir in discussions with UNM to become head coach

ESPN’s Jeff Goodman is reporting that New Mexico is interested in hiring New Mexico State head coach Paul Weir to the same position.

Goodman reported that talks are currently ongoing between the two parties.

NMSU would not confirm that talks are taking place, but did confirm that a UNM athletics department official placed a courtesy call to NMSU’s athletic director, Mario Moccia, on Friday to discuss Weir.

UNM is seeking to replace Craig Neal, who coached the Lobos for the past four seasons before being fired on April 1.

Paul Weir just completed his first season as the head coach of the NMSU Aggies. He guided the team to 28 wins, a new program record, and a WAC Tournament title. At one point during the season, the Aggies won 20 games in a row.

Weir’s team then lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Baylor.

Former NMSU regent Bob Gallagher has this to say today when asked about the possibility of Paul Weir leaving NMSU for UNM.

“If in fact a contract is agreed to tonight or tomorrow for Paul Weir to be the next head coach at the University of New Mexico, the blame needs to be very loud and very swiftly placed on the head of the NMSU Board of Regents and President Garrey Carruthers. They have shown a total lack of support for not only Coach Weir, but all athletics. And in a $600 million budget, to suggest that you could not find $250,000 dollars to be able to keep and retain a coach who has dedicated the last ten years of his life to NMSU is a sad, sad scenario…Their arrogance in not wanting to accept the fact and the role that athletics plays at a university, the amazing comparison is UNM is paying a $1 million buyout of their former head coach and is prepared to pay $700-800,000 a year for this new coach. They don’t have a president right now, and they have a virtually lame duck athletic director. The governor is calling the shots. And the fact that we cannot come up with $250,000 dollars in an over $600 million budget is an absolute black eye to the entire country about the leadership of NMSU.”