UCSD basketball coach Eric Olen is finalist for opening at a Mountain West program

[JT Hammons]

UC San Diego coach Eric Olen could be coaching in San Diego next season, but it might be a league game at Viejas Arena against San Diego State.

The architect of UCSD’s 30-5 record and NCAA Tournament berth in the program’s first season of Division I eligibility is a finalist for the vacancy at New Mexico, according to multiple sources close to the hiring process. The other known finalist is Andy Kennedy from Alabama-Birmingham.

New Mexico went 27-8, claimed the Mountain West regular-season title and won a game in the NCAA Tournament before exiting against Michigan State last Sunday. Three days later, coach Richard Pitino was hired by Xavier of the Big East.

The front-runner for the job was initially considered former USD player and assistant coach James Borrego, who has spent most of his career in the NBA and is currently an associate head coach with the New Orleans Pelicans. But the Albuquerque Journal reported Friday that the Albuquerque native withdrew from consideration, and sources said the search narrowed to Olen and Kennedy.

UCSD gave Olen a new contract last summer that raised his 2024-25 salary from $270,000 to $345,000 plus an $85,000 “talent fee” (taking it to $430,000). Performance bonuses for Big West coach of the year and the NCAA Tournament appearance elevate it to $485,000. In addition, he is in line for a separate $65,000 “retention” bonus if he’s still at UCSD on June 30.

What also makes Olen attractive, especially in an era where schools are trying to save every dollar for NIL payments to players, is that his buyout lowered from $712,000 to a mere $150,000 in his new contract. Kennedy’s would be substantially higher.

link:  https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/29/ucsd-basketball-coach-eric-olen-is-finalist-for-opening-at-mountain-west-program/

[Green Otaku]

I hope we are doing everything to have him as a finalist for our team too, but I don't have a lot of faith.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

2 hours ago, Green Otaku said:

I hope we are doing everything to have him as a finalist for our team too, but I don't have a lot of faith.

I think Hodge was paid 300k more than he made last season so I was hoping he might be finalist for our position.

[Green Lantern]

2 minutes ago, GoMeanGreen1999 said:

I think Hodge was paid 300k more than he made last season so I was hoping he might be finalist for our position.

Reminder that we've had substantially more ready to go for Mac and Hodge extensions before they took huge $$$ upgrades at Tech and WVU.  NOW is the time to invest in leveling up the hire we can target.  We've been successful for the better part of a decade.  Time to invest.

[NM Green]

Just grab an assistant in Waco or Lubbock and call it a day. 

We need to outbid New Mexico if we go the direction. 

GMG