Lobos extends Eck's football coaching contract, worth $8.75 million through 2030

Sunday is usually reserved as an off day for the University of New Mexico football team.

Not so much this time.

The day began with news of the Lobos being left out of this week’s Mountain West Conference championship game, but that was merely a jumping-off point. By mid-morning, the Lobos received votes in both The Associated Press and AFCA Coaches Top 25 polls, a nod to the team’s six-game winning streak and 9-3 overall record that ended with a share of the league’s top spot.

By dinner time, UNM announced it had awarded coach Jason Eck with a five-year contract extension worth $8.75 million through the 2030 season. It makes him the highest-paid public employee in state history, averaging $1.75 million per year over the life of the deal.

Built-in incentives can increase his annual salary $525,000 or more. Benchmarks include a 10-win season ($200,000), winning a conference championship game ($150,000), earning a bowl bid ($25,000), making the College Football Playoff ($100,000 per round), beating a power-4 opponent ($10,000), winning MWC or national Coach of the Year awards ($25,000 to $50,000), plus an additional $10,000 to $25,000 for team academic achievements.

The agreement has a buyout clause of $4 million if Eck leaves prior to the end of the 2026 season. It drops significantly from that point forward, falling to $2 million the following season and to $750,000 or less for the final three years.

There are also the standard perks shared by all UNM coaches, such as a country club membership, courtesy car, travel for his family on road trips and season tickets to basketball and football.

“Keeping coach Eck at UNM was incredibly important to us,” said New Mexico athletic director Fernando Lovo in a statement. “What he has accomplished in such a short time is truly extraordinary. He brought belief back into our program, united our community, and raised the standard for what New Mexico football can be.”

Eck’s base salary for all five years of his deal is $400,000, starting with $575,000 in the first year for media participation and an additional $575,000 for promotion of the school and the football program.

While his base salary remains the same every year, the annual compensation for media and school promotion increases by $50,000 apiece for the duration of the deal. By the 2030 season, he would make $1.95 million before incentives.

“My family and I immediately felt welcomed and supported by the Albuquerque community,” Eck said. “Our fans have been incredible. We love it here, and we believe New Mexico football can be a perennial Mountain West contender.”

Eck has already set the school record for wins by a first-year coach and guided the Lobos to their first undefeated home record since 1962. Their 6-0 mark at University Stadium matches the best home record in school history (1927 and 1934).

Their current six-game winning streak is the team’s longest since the Lobos started the 1997 season 6-0.

UNM’s statement about Eck’s contract noted that, according to KFord Ratings, the Lobos rank first nationally in total wins over preseason projections, a performance achieved with the fewest returning players in the FBS and the second-most newcomers.