Eric Olen accepted UNM's offer to be the 23rd Lobo men's basketball coach on Saturday night. The former UC San Diego coach accepted a five-year offer of $6.5 million — starting a $1.2 million this season to coach the Lobos. Olen replaces Richard Pitino, who left UNM for Xavier after four years.

The architect of UC San Diego’s magical basketball season that came within a rimmed-out 3-pointer from taking mighty Michigan to overtime in the NCAA Tournament has been hired by New Mexico. The Union-Tribune reported Saturday that he was a finalist for the job, and the Albuquerque Journal first reported Sunday morning that he got it.

Eric Olen has been hired as the new men's basketball coach at New Mexico, leaving UC San Diego after five seasons. He takes over for Richard Pitino, who left Albuquerque to take the opening at Xavier last week. The school officially announced Olen's hiring on Sunday afternoon.