May 10 – New Mexico Highlands co-athletic director Shanna Halalilo said the search for the Cowboys’ next football coach is in its “early steps” after parting ways with former head coach Ron Hudson last week.
Hudson, a first-time head coach after spending more than 30 years as an assistant, was fired May 1 after compiling a 5-16 record in two seasons at Division II NMHU. According to annual salary reports, he is expected to earn $111,300 in 2024.
Halalilo, who serves as one of NMHU’s two co-athletic directors with Jim Deisler, said she is “grateful” for the time Hudson spent leading the Cowboys, but maintained the need for the program to move in a different direction.
“The culture that coach Hudson has built is one that I believe a new coach will be able to embody and build upon,” she told the Journal on Thursday. “Ultimately, there’s a really positive environment around this program and I think we’re really looking forward to entering a new era.”
NMHU – a public university based in Las Vegas, NM – hired Mammoth Sports Construction to help identify coaching candidates. Mammoth, on its website, posts more than 500 completed searches specializing in small colleges.
Halalilo also said a committee of university and community members has been assembled to help make a hire “preferably as quickly as possible.”
“But the process takes some time,” she continued. “And like I said, I don’t think we’re willing to compromise on quality over time. So I think we’re going to take the time necessary to really find the best leader possible.”
When asked why the university decided to part ways with Hudson in May — the overwhelming majority of football coaches are hired and fired immediately after the fall — Halalilo reiterated that it was ultimately time for the university to move in a different direction.
“Being on the cusp of a new era, there are a lot of excited stakeholders and a lot of people interested in getting involved,” she said. “It’s always great when people are excited and engaged with your football program. So it’s just another really strong leader that can continue to build culture.”
While he praised his time at NMHU, Hudson said financial difficulties affected his two seasons with the Cowboys. Late last season, during the busiest recruiting cycle, he said his coaching staff was told there was no money in the recruiting budget and that they would have to largely pay for their own travel.
“Not only are we at the bottom of the conference, we’re near the bottom nationally in the athletic department budget… I’d like to think that if there was some stability here and they could get a little more financial support, this thing could be a giant asleep,” Hudson told the Journal last week.
Halalilo, who previously spent five years as NMHU’s associate athletic director for external operations, acknowledged Hudson’s comments and said the university is actively looking to maximize any and all fundraising opportunities.
“It’s no secret that most Division II (departments) have a limited budget and recruit on limited budgets,” she said. “And that’s definitely something the university and our department have been working on. Funds are limited and it’s not always ideal, but I can say we are improving.”
With Hudson’s firing, NMHU is now searching for its 13th head coach since 2000. The Cowboys have had just two winning seasons (8-3 in 2012, 6-5 in 2006) since then and only one head coach (Eric Young, 2011 -14) lasted more than three seasons during this period.
Hudson was about to enter his third season after being promoted from associate head coach and special teams coordinator to replace Josh Kirkland, who left for the head job at Southwestern Oklahoma State.
“I can’t point to each coach’s decision as to why they left or moved,” Halalilo said when asked about the consistent turnover. “I will say the Highlands tradition runs very deep, especially in the football program. And so, I think regardless of who is in charge or who is in charge, there will always be a deep tradition when it comes to football.”
