Joe Franklin Joe Franklin is quoted as saying "We have to keep it fun" Coach Franklin was at Purdue from 1986-1991. This upcoming year will be coach Franklin's fourteenth year as the Track and Field's head coach. Franklin has led his team to 12 straight women's Mountain West titles. Former varsity sports Skiing - UNM skiing officially became an NCAA-sanctioned program in 1982. They won a national championship in 2004. Citing financial issues, skiing was permanently eliminated in 2019. Women's beach volleyball - Beach volleyball was permanently eliminated in 2019 due to financial issues. Men's soccer - in 2018, UNM men's soccer was permanently eliminated due to financial issues. Men's wrestling - in 1999, men's wrestling was permanently eliminated due to Title IX considerations and financial issues. Men's gymnastics - Men's gymnastics had 16 individual NCAA champions. In 1999, men's gymnastics was permanently eliminated due to Title IX considerations and financial issues. Men's swimming - in 1999, men's swimming was permanently eliminated due to Title IX considerations and financial issues. Rivalries Kit Carson Rifle (Arizona Wildcats) Rio Grande Rivalry (New Mexico State Aggies) Championships NCAA team championships New Mexico has won 3 NCAA team national championships. Women's (2) Cross Country (2): 2015, 2017 Co-ed (1) Skiing (1): 2004 see also: Mountain West Conference NCAA team championships List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships National runners-up Division I Men's & Women's Skiing (1992, 2006) Division I Men's Soccer (2005) Notable former Lobo athletes and coaches Basketball Bob King, former head coach and, "architect of Lobo basketball." Dave Bliss, winningest head coach at UNM Steve Alford, former head coach Ira Harge, former NBA and ABA player Mel Daniels, former NBA and ABA player Michael Cooper, former NBA player and 5-time NBA champion Luc Longley, former NBA player and 3-time NBA champion Kenny Thomas, former NBA player Danny Granger, former NBA player Darington Hobson, former NBA player Tony Snell, NBA player Cameron Bairstow, former NBA player Football Roy Johnson, former UNM athletic director and football/basketball coach Don Perkins, former NFL player Preston Dennard, former NFL player Brian Urlacher, former NFL player Baseball Mitch Garver, MLB player Jordan Pacheco, MLB player and current hitting coach for the Albuquerque Isotopes Track and Field Josh Kerr, 2020 Olympic Bronze 1500m Medalist Golf Tim Herron, former PGA tour player Tommy Armour III, former PGA tour player Charlie Belijan, former PGA tour player See