The high school basketball regular season revs up this week with big tournaments around the region. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron offer an overview of the action and highlight the matchups to watch. James discusses the Jason Abeyta Memorial Tournament at Santa Fe Indian School, the St. Michael’s Shootout and the Northern Rio Grande Tournament at Española Valley. The NRG showcases some of the area’s top Class 2A schools and brings the possibility of a Pecos-Mesa Vista battle in the boys tournament. In the second segment, the guys make some NFL playoff predictions before discussing the athletic director opening at the University of New Mexico following the departure of Fernando Lovo to Colorado. Will shares his thoughts on interim AD Ryan Berryman, a 32-year-old graduate of UNM and East Mountain High School, and advocates for a youth movement for the department.

Santa Fe New Mexican sports scribe James Barron is turning 50 as the calendar turns to 2026 and his birthday wish is to one day see successful coaches and administrators at his alma mater stick around for a while. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Barron and University of New Mexico beat writer Will Webber discuss the latest departure from Albuquerque as 37-year-old athletic director Fernando Lovo heads to Colorado after an eventful 13-month stint at UNM. Will and James talk about the big decisions Lovo had to make in his short time in charge of Lobo athletics, including the hiring of Jason Eck as head football coach and Eric Olen as the men’s basketball coach. Eck went on to become Mountain West coach of the year as the football team’s success ignited a dormant fan base. The guys touch on why it’s tough for UNM to keep successful coaches and administrators, and share their thoughts on what Lovo is getting into as he heads to Boulder, where Deion Sanders’ presence looms large. Will and James also share some of their most memorable moments from 2025 and take a look at the local prep hoops scene.

The Santa Fe High boys basketball team is off to a 6-1 start and showing signs of being a contender in Class 5A. Ahead of the Demons’ trip to The Holiday Classic in San Diego, where they will face off with teams from across the country, head coach Cisco Rivera took some time to chat with Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron about what he’s learned about his team so far. The guys start with questions about the upcoming holiday tournament, which will place Rivera in his former stomping grounds. The coach talks about his ties to the San Diego area and discusses the opportunity this offers for his players. Rivera gets into his evolution as a coach and describes what led to the success he and former Santa Fe High coach Zack Cole had together. He also offers credit to the Demons’ assistants, who have provided stability to the program over the years. After the break, Will and James chat a bit more about prep hoops before talking about college football. They discuss the University of New Mexico's upcoming matchup with Minnesota in the Rate Bowl, as well as the New Mexico Bowl which will pit San Diego State against North Texas.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, an Albuquerque native and former New Mexico State Aggie, wasn’t exactly gracious after his runner-up finish for the Heisman Trophy and had some choice words for voters in a social media post afterward. Will Webber, Santa Fe New Mexican sports editor and one of 870 media members with a Heisman vote, has some words to share on Pavia, too. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Will explains why he left Pavia off his ballot and speaks with fellow sports writer James Barron about how Pavia's antics and stature could impact his pro prospects. The guys compare him to other Heisman finalists and discuss other flawed athletes to come out of New Mexico. Will and James turn to hoops talk in the second segment, discussing recent prep basketball results and the University of New Mexico men’s team. The guys chat a bit about Santa Fe High’s promising start to the season and the impressive displays the Santa Fe Indian School boys and girls have had so far. The Lobo men, meanwhile, are 9-2 heading into Mountain West Conference play. The guys talk about how the conference seems up for grabs this year and that, at this point, it seems like UNM could be in the mix.

The Mesa Vista boys basketball team seized a win heard ’round New Mexico last week when the Class 2A Trojans took down perennial Class 5A powerhouse Hobbs in the Española Shootout. With a school enrollment of 87, Mesa Vista's 60-58 victory over the Hobbs, which has an enrollment of nearly 2,300, caught the attention of prep hoops coaches and fans of teams from all classes. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Mesa Vista boys basketball coach Thomas Vigil joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss the Trojans’ impressive victory over one of the state's most storied teams and the reaction he has received. Vigil also reflects on his roots in the community and what he has focused on to build a winning program at Mesa Vista. In the second segment, the guys talk about the University of New Mexico getting picked to face Minnesota in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on Dec. 26. They also talk about Diego Pavia’s days in New Mexico ahead of the announcement of this year’s Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday. Will and James also chat a bit about UNM men’s basketball and the Lobos’ dominant win over Santa Clara before closing out the show by returning to prep hoops talk.

It was a big two days for local sports coverage last week as the University of New Mexico football team defeated San Diego State on Friday to finish in a tie for first in the Mountain West Conference and then St. Michael’s football team won another championship game thriller against Dexter for its third straight Class 3A title. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron share their takeaways from St. Mike’s and Lobos’ victories. They start by discussing the Horsemen-Demons showdown and the rare adversity St. Mike’s had to overcome to fight back and edge out Dexter for the second year in a row. The guys talk about key moments in the game, then highlight the legacy of the Horsemen seniors and look ahead to what the team may look like next year. Will and James then focus on the Lobos, offering their thoughts on the incredible run UNM has had under first-year coach Jason Eck, who has helped infuse excitement around a program that was in the doldrums. With the Mountain West Conference about to undergo an overhaul and the Lobos experiencing some positive momentum, Will discusses why this could be one of the most crucial times in UNM athletics history.

St. Michael’s powerhouse football program is in the midst of a 32-game winning streak heading into its Class 3A championship game showdown Saturday in Dexter. Senior standouts Kamal Stith and Isaiah Dominguez have had a big hand in the team’s success. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Stith and Dominguez join Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to reflect their football careers, which they hope to cap with a three-peat. Stith and Dominguez discuss their memories of last year’s championship game against Dexter, share how being multi-sport athletes helps them from season to season, and give some props to the unsung heroes of the team.

Both teams have held up their end of the bargain all year and now the game everyone’s been talking about is almost here. In a rematch of last year’s Class 3A championship game that came down to the wire, St. Michael’s will look to cap off another unbeaten season when the Horsemen take on No. 2 seed Dexter on Saturday in Dexter. In the first of two “Sports Den” podcast episodes this week previewing the big game, Dexter coach Sonny Duran joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss the strength of the Demons and what it’s going to take to stop St. Mike’s 32-game winning streak. The Demons were the last team to really push the Horsemen, who have cruised through their 2025 schedule. St. Mike’s needed a gutsy drive to come from behind and win 28-26 in the final minute of the 2024 title game against Dexter. Duran recalls that game and the challenge of moving past that emotional loss. Ranch and farm boys are spread through the Dexter roster, which Duran says has a big impact on the team’s hard-working mentality. The Demons don’t have a lot of height on the line, but they’ve got strength, and Duran said “if we’re going to win, it’s going to be in the trenches.” In the second segment of the episode, Will and James offer their own thoughts on the St. Mike’s-Dexter matchup and then talk University of New Mexico football ahead of one of the program’s biggest regular season games in its history when the Lobos take on San Diego State for a chance to play for the Mountain West Conference title. Tune in for a second episode of "The Sports Den" on Thursday when Will and James chat with St. Mike's standouts Kamal Stith and Isaiah Dominguez. 

The state volleyball tournament is a wrap and state football is all that remains of the prep fall sports season. And wouldn’t you know, the University of New Mexico football is still playing meaningful games. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron put a bow on the volleyball season and discuss prep football semifinal matchups for St. Michael’s and Taos. The unbeaten Horsemen will take on No. 5 seed New Mexico Military Institute in the Class 3A semis and are looking to make it to their fifth straight state championship game. Taos, meanwhile, is a game away from the finals but has to take on powerhouse Bloomfield in the Class 4A semis. The guys also talk about the scenarios that could play out for the UNM football team, which is in a tight battle to earn a spot in the Mountain West Conference championship game. Next up is Air Force, which Will and James say has less talent than the Lobos but could pose a challenge with their tricky triple option offense. If they win, the Lobos would take on San Diego State in what would be one of the most important regular season games in the program’s history. The UNM men’s hoops team scuffled in a loss to New Mexico State and now heads to Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic, where the Lobos will take on Nebraska on Thursday and either Kansas State or Mississippi State on Friday. Will and James offer their impressions on first-year coach Eric Olen’s squad so far.

Several prep sports teams have hoisted a blue trophy to cap their season but there are still plenty more to earn. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron review the success of local teams in cross country and soccer, then preview the week ahead for the state volleyball and football tournaments. James will be camped out at the Rio Rancho Events Center for volleyball this week and discusses what he expects from local teams, including three-time Class 3A defending champion St. Michael’s, Santa Fe Indian School, Santa Fe Prep and Santa Fe High. The guys then talk about the local teams left in state football. Undefeated St. Mike’s road to another title goes through rival Robertson, while Pojoaque, Los Alamos and Taos also look to extend their seasons. In the second segment, Will and James talk about the University of New Mexico football team’s possible path to the Mountain West Conference championships game and the challenge head coach Jason Eck has laid down for fans this weekend against Colorado State. They also discuss college hoops, including the UNM men breezing by lesser opponents and the Highlands men’s team busting at the seams with 45 players listed on the roster.

With his development of the Northern New Mexico Youth Sports League, Zeke Villegas was already a well-known name in the regional football community by 2022-2023 when he was applying to various schools in search of his first high school head coaching job. He got his shot at Pojoaque Valley, where he was hired to turn around a program that had gone winless the previous season. Fast forward three years and Villegas has the Elks in the playoffs for the second straight season with their highest-ever seed. Pojoaque landed the No. 4 seed in Class 3A to earn a first-round bye and will face the winner between No. 5 New Mexico Military Institute and No. 12 Wingate in the quarterfinals. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Villegas joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss the Elks’ run this year and how he’s worked to build a winning mentality within the program. A 2001 Capital grad and former coach at a variety of levels at the school, Villegas shares what he learned from coaching legend Bill Moon that he uses with his players today. He also talks about his aggressive coaching style and his openness to listen to his players’ input during critical moments in games. In the second segment, Will and James talk a bit more about the state football tournament as well as state soccer. They then discuss the University of New Mexico’s football and men’s basketball teams, with Will bringing up the wild-sounding possibility of the football team competing for a Mountain West Conference title if it can win out.

We’re well into fall and the University of New Mexico football team is vying for a bowl bid, the Lobos men’s basketball team has tipped off its exhibition season and prep sports postseason kicks off this week with state soccer. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss the UNM football team’s convincing win over former coach Bronco Mendenhall and Utah State and the Lobos men’s basketball team’s loss to Washington State in its exhibition opener. With the football team’s strong start to the season under Jason Eck, Will discusses the rarity of UNM first-year coaches finding success. The guys also talk about New Mexico Highlands’ ambitious plans for a massive upgrade of its athletic facilities, which would cost an estimated $85.5 million. Will shares what he learned from a long conversation with Highlands President Neil Woolf and other school officials about the plans, and offers his take on how much money he thinks the school is likely to actually receive. In the second segment, the guys turn to prep sports. James shares his thoughts on the state soccer tournament and offers his favorites to win titles. They then discuss the last week of the prep football season, which includes a matchup between St. Michael’s and Robertson that they say doesn’t seem to have as much hype as in past years. They also talk about Capital and its chances of making the playoffs.

One of the big stories from last week was the suspension of the Academy for Technology and the Classics girls soccer coach Vilma Ontiveros for violating the school’s social media policy. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss the fallout at the school following the suspension. Will and James also take a look at local prep football teams as the end of the regular season approaches, including St. Michael’s dominance and if there is hope for Robertson to make some noise in the playoffs after dealing with recent suspensions in its program. In the second segment, the guys are joined by St. Michael’s multi-sport athlete Brandon Meyer, who has had to endure heartbreak during his senior year with the loss of his father as well as the disappointment of a severe knee injury in the football team’s first game of the season. Meyer discusses the support he has received from the St. Mike’s community, the pride that he has for the football team as it has continued to roll despite many injuries to key players, and his aim to return from injury for the track and field season in hopes of helping the Horsemen claim another state title.

Adam Diehl is a play-by-play broadcaster for everything from college cross country to prep football and volleyball, to New Mexico United soccer and more. Working for ESPN Radio 101.7, Sports Primo and the Mountain West Network, the New Mexico native is well-versed in the sports scene throughout the state. As high school fall sports head into the home stretch of the regular season, Diehl joins “The Sports Den” to share his outlook on football playoff seeding and contenders in soccer and volleyball. He also shares a rant on the state volleyball format. Diehl, who played soccer at Eastern New Mexico University, talks about how he got into broadcasting, including being mentored by Doc Elder. He also discusses how he handles making mistakes, how he deals with criticism, and his first experience calling a game one of his children played in.

The University of New Mexico football team’s momentum was stopped cold with a disappointing loss against San Jose State last week, but the prep sports storylines keep heating up. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron talk about the Pojoaque football team’s first-ever win over a shorthanded Robertson squad. They discuss what the victory means for the Elks’ playoff outlook and look ahead for a Robertson team that has been dealing with suspensions. The guys also talk about St. Michael’s continued dominance following last week’s throttling of Hope Christian. The victory extended the Horsemen’s win streak to 27 games. James talks about the significance of the streak and the excellence of coach Joey Fernandez. Will and James also talk about their new weekly prep athlete spotlight, which kicked off this week with a feature on St. Mike’s standout quarterback Kamal Stith.

It’s a new day in Loboland. Social media stars and Albuquerque celebrities were part of a rare sellout crowd at University Stadium on Saturday to provide an electric atmosphere for the Lobos’ Rio Grande Rivalry win over New Mexico State. Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron have seen a lot of UNM games over the years, but it was hard to compare the environment of Saturday to anything they’ve experienced before. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Will and James discuss what they called a “special experience” for Lobo fans. They also discuss how first-year UNM coach Jason Eck has used his personality to draw in the fans and the community like no football coach has since Rocky Long. At 3-1, Will says the Lobos join Utah State and Hawaii as the Mountain West teams that are exceeding expectations so far this year. Needing three more wins to become bowl eligible, Will says they should shoot for trying to qualify for a postseason appearance beyond the comfortable New Mexico Bowl. In the second segment, Will and James talk about the return of professional hockey to the state with the unveiling of the New Mexico Goatheads, and hate on the team’s logo. The guys then get into a prep sports update, talking about local football, volleyball and soccer teams.

What a time to be alive. The University of New Mexico football team dominated a Big Ten team on Friday, defeating UCLA 35-10 at the Rose Bowl for one of the biggest wins in program history. Also on Friday, Santa Fe High’s football team took down Albuquerque High 18-6 for the Demons’ first district win since 2023. On the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss the recent momentum of these two programs that have struggled to find success over the decades. The Lobos take a 2-1 record into their Sept. 27 home game against rival New Mexico State. Will says 30,000-35,000 fans are expected for the matchup. The guys talk about first-year UNM coach Jason Eck's early season success, which has already brought rumors of him being a candidate for other jobs around the country. Santa Fe High, meanwhile, faces Sandia at home on Friday as it looks to build on its district success and make a push for a spot in the playoffs. The guys also talk about St. Michael’s, which takes on Eunice Saturday in a battle of unbeatens. The Cardinals could offer an interesting challenge, as their high-flying offense has averaged nearly 60 points per game during their 4-0 start. Will and James touch on Capital’s first win of the year and discuss the impact of Garnett Stokes at UNM on the day she announced her planned retirement as school president.

Santa Fe’s big three football teams have all had a go at each other through the first three weeks of the season and St. Michael’s again has proven to be at the top of the class. On the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss St. Michael’s dominance of Santa Fe High and Capital, then delve into some of the other prep football highlights from the past week that caught their eye. In the second segment, Will and James talk college ball, including the University of New Mexico’s victory in its home opener against Idaho State, the first win of the Jason Eck era. The game drew 17,600 fans, which was the highest attendance for a home opener in seven years. Will talks about the improved gameday experience and the guys look ahead to the Lobos’ chances against scuffling UCLA on Friday. Will and James then chat about the early season exploits of Highlands running back Jeffery Jones, a true freshman who has amassed more than 600 yards rushing in his first two games, including an NCAA Division II freshman rushing record of 385 yards against Western New Mexico on Saturday. They compare the 5-foot-7, 170-pound Florida native to former NFL star Danny Woodhead, another player overlooked by big-time college programs who was small in stature but put up massive numbers in Division II.

The prep football season is heating up and Week 3 brings some big games for area teams. In the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss their excitement for games between unbeaten teams, including Santa Fe High against St. Michael’s and Pojoaque versus Los Alamos. The guys talk about Kamal Stith growing into his role at quarterback for the Horsemen, then share their favorite memories of St. Mike’s-Santa Fe High games of the past. In the second segment, James discusses his experience covering the All American Futurity at The Downs Racetrack & Casino in Albuquerque, then the conversation turns to the Lobos. The University of New Mexico football team gave a better fight than many expected in its game at Michigan in front of a national television audience on Saturday and now looks ahead to its home opener under Idaho State, coach Jason Eck’s first game in front of the home fans. Will and James talk about their first impressions of Lobo quarterback Jack Layne, who took a pounding in the game but showed toughness in the team’s 34-17 loss. Will also talks about game day improvements that fans can expect this season in and around University Stadium.

We’re in it now. With Week 1 of the prep football season in the books, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron have some thoughts to share about what stood out from area teams’ season openers.  James covered Santa Fe High’s win over Capital and offers his insight on what he saw. He thinks the Demons’ Week 2 game at Belen will be a good test to see if they’re legit.  After picking against St. Michael’s in their season opener against Taos, Will admits the Horsemen look pretty good again this year but that won’t stop him from picking against them again.  The University of New Mexico football team begins its season Saturday at the Big House in Ann Arbor where the Lobos will have their hands full with No. 14 Michigan. Will shares what UNM head coach Jason Eck had to say during his media availability on Tuesday and offers thoughts on how the Lobos might handle Wolverine freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, who was the No. 1-ranked high school recruit in the nation in 2025. 

The prep football season kicks off this week and Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron are celebrating by providing some bulletin board material for area teams and making their picks for Week 1. The guys start the latest episode of “The Sports Den” by sharing their parting takes from visiting area team practices for their Tour of the North series. They then get into picking winners in the Week 1 matchups, which include Santa Fe High squaring off against Capital and St. Michael’s taking on Taos. Spoiler alert — one of the guys picks against the defending Class 3A champion Horsemen right off the bat. After football talk, James gives an overview of the landscape in prep soccer and volleyball while Will nods his head and smiles.

The prep football season is less than 10 days away and Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron are on the move, checking out the practices of local teams for their Tour of the North series that runs through Aug. 22. The guys spend the latest episode of “The Sports Den” discussing what they’ve seen from the practices they’ve attended so far.  The Tour series kicked off with a story Tuesday on the Robertson Cardinals, who have a new head coach and are replacing some key players from last year’s team that made the state semifinals. Will and James also chat about West Las Vegas, St. Mike’s, Española and Pojoaque, who they say could be a wildcard this year.  Will also talks about his stop at New Mexico Highlands, where he spoke with second-year head football coach Kurt Taufa’asau. He didn’t have much time to put together a roster last season and feels this year’s squad has the tools to build on a 2-9 record in 2024.  There’s also talk of Will’s family losing a dog (RIP Jasmine), Zozobra bobblehead night at an upcoming New Mexico United game, and the University of New Mexico football team being named the dirtiest team in the nation.

They’re young and they don’t have the largest roster, but Capital head football coach John Michael Salazar has liked what he’s seen from his Jaguars in the early days of practice for the 2025 football season. Coming off a 2-7 year, the Jaguars bring back some strong athletes at their skill positions and an improved culture in the locker room, which gives Salazar hope for the team to take another step this year.  In the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Salazar joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss his expectations for the Jaguars. He talks about their struggles to finish tight games last season and what they need to do to get over the hump next year. He also talks about the importance of a strong line and the need to balance the team’s propensity for passing with a serviceable ground game.  Salazar expects his varsity roster to be in the low to mid 30s, a small number for competing in Class 5A. He says he may have lost some kids due to how he’s run the program, but he feels he’s got a solid group of high-character, hard-working players.  In the second half of the show, Will and James talk about a new video put out by the University of New Mexico this week to promote their plan to allow children 12 and under to get in free to Lobo home football games. Featuring head coach Jason Eck and athletic director Fernando Lovo, the humorous video gained traction on social media. The guys say efforts like that are needed to help drum up interest in a program that is often an afterthought in the state. 

Bored with the limited summer sports offerings, Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron decide to dive into prep football talk for the latest episode of “The Sports Den.” The football season starts in just under a month, with Santa Fe Indian School facing Cuba on Thursday, Aug. 21, to kick off the slate of games for local teams. Will and James discuss the prospects for several schools in the area. With St. Michael’s bringing back plenty of talent from last year’s title team, they see the Horsemen as favorites again in 3A. The guys say it could be a rough road for Santa Fe High as they try to compete in a difficult district under a new head coach. For Capital, they think the Jaguars have talent but will need to show improvement on the offensive line to ramp up their scoring from last year. Española had a resurgent season last year, making it to the state semifinals. It could be more of a rebuilding year this season as they look to replace their coach and several key players. Will and James also tease their upcoming “ask an official” content.

August 1 will mark five years since the death of JB White, but the legacy of former Santa Fe High basketball standout lives on. The JB White Foundation was founded in 2021 to raise gun violence awareness among the region’s youth, to provide academic scholarships to high school seniors and to support children in sports through assisting with registration fees and shoe apparel.  The foundation is also in its third year of hosting the JB White Memorial Basketball Tournament, which will take place July 18-20. Tournament organizers Britney Lucero and Michael Roybal join “The Sports Den” to preview the event, which will include 94 teams this year — more than double the number of teams that took part last year.  Roybal and Lucero share their experiences with White and discuss his legacy. They also talk about the growth of the JB White Foundation and its mission in the community.  Learn more about the JB White Foundation at www.jbwhitefoundation.org.

Carl Vigil has been officiating games in New Mexico for two decades and is now the New Mexico Activities Association’s commissioner of officials. He’s witnessed a decline in referee staffing, which has become a problem nationwide in part because of the abuse officials endure from fans.  Vigil joins the latest episode of “The Sports Den” with Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss bad fan behavior, the struggle of recruiting and retaining officials, and much more.  The guys ask Vigil if, as some have suggested, New Mexico’s referee shortage has reached a crisis level. He also discusses how the median age of officials has been on the rise, making it critical to recruit young officials as others age out.  A former athlete at Las Vegas Robertson and New Mexico Highlands, Vigil talks about what got him into officiating. Will and James ask him who was the better athlete between him and his brother, Curtis Vigil, and who is now the better referee.  Vigil also discusses what it takes to be a good official, the teamwork and communication that connect a crew, the wear and tear referees can experience, and how he goes about choosing officials to staff state tournaments. He closes by sharing his Mount Rushmore of officials from New Mexico and makes a plea to fans to help improve behavior toward referees.

It’s media day on “The Sports Den” as Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron welcome Ryan Tomari of The Pit Press to the show. Tomari discusses the origins and growth of the media outlet that focuses on University of New Mexico athletics, and the team that churns out podcasts and content at thepitpressnm.com.  The guys talk to Tomari about his infamous run-in with former UNM football coach Mike Locksley when Locksley was none too pleased by a column Tomari wrote for the Daily Lobo student newspaper that said the football program was “in shambles.” Tomari delves into gaining respect as a new media entity, his relationship with the UNM athletic department and the opportunities that have come for The Pit Press as the site and podcasts have grown in popularity.  The guys also ask Tomari about his thoughts on the future for UNM and other Mountain West Conference teams. He also talks about why he’s an advocate for the football program dropping to the FCS.

It’s the dog days of summer for sports coverage and Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron are talking hoops in the latest episode of “The Sports Den.” Will attended last week’s 30-minute University of New Mexico men’s basketball practice to check out the new-look Lobos under their new head coach, Eric Olen. He shares his impressions on what he saw, including which players he thinks fans should keep an eye out for. James also watched some basketball last week, peeking in on a Sandia Prep boys basketball camp that included local powers St. Michael’s and Robertson. He talks briefly about his thoughts on the programs. James closes the episode by sharing thoughts about his father, Joseph Morse, who passed away last week. He talks about the struggle of losing a parent and the ray of light sports provided for him in the difficult days following his father’s death.

There’s no guest on the “Sports Den” this week, and maybe that’s for the best after the disorder of last week’s episode. Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron begin their latest episode by reminiscing about their memorable interview with Pecos League president Andrew Dunn and also talk some Santa Fe Fuego baseball before diving into prep and college athletics. The guys discuss NCAA conference realignment and its impact on the Mountain West Conference and the University of New Mexico. They also discuss how the recent $2.8 billion settlement in the House vs. NCAA case will impact UNM athletics. Will and James close the show by discussing local high school sports, starting with a bevy of coaching vacancies. They also chat about their picks for the NorthStars male and female athletes of the year — St. Michael’s Soren Annon and West Las Vegas’ Alexis Pacheco.

Pecos League founder and president Andrew Dunn surely has many great stories about the independent baseball league that is home to the Santa Fe Fuego. Unfortunately, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron will have to wait to hear them.  In the latest episode of “The New Mexican Sports Den,” Dunn struggles to communicate his Pecos League stories and knowledge as he boards a plane to travel from Kansas City to Houston. The guys try to keep it together as they conduct the shortest and most chaotic interview of the podcast’s brief history.  Things go much smoother as Fuego general manager Yvonne Encinias makes an appearance. Encinias discusses how she became the Fuego’s GM, talks about how operating the organization has become a family affair, and shares how her experience with nonprofit organizations has helped her in running the team.

Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss their most memorable moments from the 2024-25 high school sports seasons, including the good and the bad. They also discuss some of the changes they’d like the New Mexico Activities Association to implement in coming years. Back from his Indy 500 birthday weekend, Barron shares a bit about his experience at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. And reporting from Fort Marcy Ballpark, Webber talks gives an update on the Santa Fe Fuego ahead of their Pecos League opener. The guys also chat a bit about the recent Mountain West and Pac-12 meetings, which Webber wrote about in his latest column, and what possible outcomes could mean for the University of New Mexico.

The 2024-25 prep sports season came to an end last weekend with champions crowned at state competitions for track, baseball and softball. Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron put a bow on the academic year by chatting with graduating multi-sport standouts Raylee Hunt of St. Michael’s and Cy Anderson of Santa Fe High. Both athletes took home hardware at the state track and field meets. Anderson discusses battling through an injury to help the Demons’ 1,600-meter relay team take home the gold. Hunt also talks about dealing with injuries and her experience in helping the St. Michael’s girls team come from behind to win a dramatic team title. The pair also discuss their futures, with Hunt heading to Duke to swim and Anderson going to Colorado University Boulder. After the interview, Will and James chat a bit about coaching shakeups and what’s to come for the summer.

Joey Fernandez said when he started coaching at St. Michael’s in the early 1990s his dream was to bring a state championship to the school because he never won one as an athlete. The St. Mike’s alum has been living the dream for more than two decades while leading the football and track programs to a combined 20 state titles since 2003. Fresh off watching his boys and girls track teams lift blue trophies over the weekend, Fernandez joined Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss St. Michael’s success. Fernandez looks back on the championship weekend and reflects on his coaching career, which he says he doesn’t plan on ending anytime soon. The guys ask Fernandez how he went about building a powerhouse track program that had few resources in his early days, and about how he worked to turn the football program into a perennial title contender after it hadn’t experienced much winning for three decades. Fernandez, the winningest active football coach in New Mexico, talks about what it’s like to perform under high expectations. He also shares the names of some of the people who influenced him as a person and athlete.

At long last, Eric Olen makes his ‘Sports Den’ debut as he chats with the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Will Webber and James Barron about his first month-and-change in the most high-profile coaching job in the state. The new University of New Mexico men’s basketball coach talks about hitting the ground running to construct a staff and completely retool the roster after the departure of Richard Pitino and the players that led the Lobos to a second-round run in the NCAA Tournament. Olen goes over the players he’s brought in so far and what they bring to the table. The guys talk to Olen about his long stint at the University of California, San Diego and how he was able to take a team that transitioned from Division II to Division I to the NCAA Tournament so quickly. They also ask him about his thoughts on the NIL landscape and how it impacts mid-major conference teams. Olen expresses his excitement about experiencing The Pit and gets questioned about what his wardrobe will be on the sidelines. He said the Lobos job was one he wanted as soon as Pitino left, and he felt he recruited UNM as much as the school recruited him. With his family still in San Diego as he has worked to find a house in Albuquerque, Olen talks about the challenges of filling out a program as he tries to get settled in a new city. After the interview, Will and James discuss what’s to come in the days ahead for the prep spring sports postseason.

Well looky here. After securing one guest interview over their first twelve episodes, Santa Fe New Mexican sports guys Will Webber and James Barron cram two interviews into their latest offering. Will and James first bring on former St. Michael's track and field standout and current University of New Mexico pole vaulter Jacquelyn Gorman before chatting with Santa Fe Prep tennis star and former New Mexican sports intern Henry Kaufman. The guys speak with Gorman about her return to track and field after a year off following her graduation from St. Mike's. She talks about what led her to joining the team at UNM, what it's like competing at the Division I level, what got her into pole vaulting in the first place, and more.  Kaufman then joins the show to discuss his decorated tennis career at Prep, which is coming to a close. One of the top players in state, he talks about his aspirations for the end of his senior season, his plans after he graduates, and what it was like to be a member of the media asking questions of UNM's men's basketball coach and star player while he was helping out as a New Mexican intern.

After poking fun at University of New Mexico men’s basketball coach Eric Olen for missing his scheduled podcast appearance, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron change their tone as they share their memories of brothers Jason and Nathan Abeyta. The two were killed in a car crash near Abiquiú on the morning of April 17, sending a shock wave of grief across the region.  The brothers, members of Ohkay Owingeh, left an indelible mark at Santa Fe Indian School, where Jason served as boys basketball coach and Nathan as the assistant athletic director. They were both graduates of the school and beloved members of its community.  Will and James talk about the impression the brothers left on them and share what other members of the athletic community have said about the Abeytas as those who knew and loved them mourn their passing. The guys then discuss what’s been happening in the spring sports scene with the end of seasons quickly approaching.

He’s been a team manager for Jim Boeheim at Syracuse, an assistant coach under Billy Gillispie at Tarleton State, and got his first college basketball head coaching job at age 27. Now, Zach Settembre is in the Land of Enchantment looking to make his mark as the new men’s basketball coach at New Mexico Highlands.  Settembre, 34, was hired as coach of the Cowboys on April 8 and has been busy trying to build a roster for the 2025-26 season. The Louisville, Ky., native took some time Tuesday to chat with Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss his career path, his vision for the Highlands program, and what it’s like coaching across different levels of college basketball in today’s NIL landscape. Settembre shares the story of playing with legendary coach Rick Pitino’s youngest son, Ryan, while attending middle school in Louisville. He also talks about what it was like to be around Boeheim and future NBA players at Syracuse. Settembre got his first college head coaching job at Tallahassee Community College at age 27. He talks about the valuable experience he gained from that opportunity, and from his other coaching stops.  No stranger to New Mexico, Settembre discusses what he learned about the passion the state’s fans have for basketball while he was an assistant at New Mexico State University. He also talks about what he thinks it will take to build a winning program at Highlands, and the type of players he’s looking to recruit.

Spring sports are well underway, but Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron have some winter sports items to wrap up. The guys discuss who they selected as the winter’s NorthStars — the top prep athletes in the area in winter sports. They also talk about the Final Four, which featured some screen time for former University of New Mexico Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez, who is now the vice president for intercollegiate athletics at the University of Houston. With Will reporting from UNM football practice, he talks about the changes he’s noticed so far under Jason Eck, Bronco Mendenhall's successor. Will says things are looking brighter than he originally thought, and he’s enjoying better access to the team. The guys also chat more about new Lobos men’s basketball coach Eric Olen and his early recruiting efforts.  Will closes by promising that the podcast will have its first guest next week. Stay tuned.

On a blustery spring day in Albuquerque, where dust storms obscured views of the Sandia Mountains, Eric Olen was introduced Tuesday as the University of New Mexico’s head men’s basketball coach to mark the beginning of a new era after a whirlwind end to March for the program. Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron share their initial impressions of the new face on campus and the work Olen has in front of him in the latest episode of “The New Mexican Sports Den.” The guys talk about Olen’s background and what it took for him to guide the University of California, San Diego program from Division II basketball to the NCAA Division I Tournament. He’ll have a lot more heavy lifting to do as he looks to hire a coaching staff and rebuild the Lobos’ roster. Will and James discuss the expectations Olen will face and whether some of the Lobos who entered the transfer portal may return to the program.

The University of New Mexico men's basketball team's NCAA Tournament run ended Sunday in the second round with a loss to Michigan State, but the Lobos will remain in the news cycle for the foreseeable future. In the latest episode of The New Mexican Sports Den, sports writers Will Webber and James Barron talk about the rumors surrounding Richard Pitino, whose name has been linked to jobs at Villanova, West Virginia, Xavier and more. They also talk about stars Donovan Dent and Tru Washington entering the transfer portal.  Will shares stories about his time covering the Lobos in Cleveland, including Rick Pitino pestering him for updates on the Colorado State-Maryland game while Will was trying to cover Lobos-Spartans. Will gushes about Rocket Arena, and he and James review why The Pit can't host NCAA Tournament games anymore. The guys also talk about the future of the Mountain West as it deals with the upcoming loss of some of its stronger programs, and how that could impact the Lobos.

Like a kid in a candy store as he takes in the sights and sounds of media day at Rocket Arena, University of New Mexico beat writer Will Webber shares his impressions of what he’s seen so far in Cleveland ahead of first-round action of the NCAA Tournament. Will and fellow New Mexican sports writer James Barron talk about what they think it will take for the No. 10 seed Lobos to take down No. 7 seed Marquette, with the winner likely drawing a date with No. 2 seed Michigan State in the second round. The guys touch on the Florida connection shared by UNM coach Richard Pitino and Marquette coach Shaka Smart, who both cut their teeth as assistants under former longtime Gators coach Billy Donovan. Will and James also discuss the Lobos’ struggles in the NCAA Tournament throughout their history, and what they expect from other Mountain West teams that made this year’s field.

Exhausted after a grueling week of state high school basketball coverage, sports writers Will Webber and James Barron reminisce about what they witnessed in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque before getting into the University of New Mexico’s first-round matchup with Marquette.  The guys share their most memorable moments from the state tournament, talk about how they think live broadcasts of the games may be impacting attendance, and offer their thoughts on which teams will be contenders again next year.  They then turn their focus on the Lobos, who hope for a longer stay in the NCAA Tournament this year. They’ll have to get past Marquette and Kam Jones, who on Tuesday was voted a second team All-American by the Associated Press. Will and James also speak more on the future of the Lobos program and head coach Richard Pitino, whose name has been in the rumor mill as high-profile programs seek a new leader.

Recording on location at the Rio Rancho Events Center for the New Mexico high school state basketball tournament, New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron share what they've seen in early action and preview the matchups they're looking forward to as the week plays out. Could the Taos Tigers boys play the role of cinderella in Class 4A? Will the St. Michael's boys reclaim the 3A crown? They hit on those topics and also share their hot takes on concessions at the state tournament. The guys then get into Lobos talk, going over the Mountain West All-Conference teams and previewing the Mountain West Tournament.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in New Mexico. The high school basketball state tournament is about to begin and the Lobo men are looking to raise their profile for the NCAA Tournament.  In the latest episode of the “The New Mexican Sports Den,” sports writers Will Webber and James Barron pick their winners in all 10 brackets of the high school state tournament and share their insights on the local contenders. Attention turns to the University of New Mexico for the second segment, as the Lobo men set their sights on the postseason with the Mountain West and NCAA tournaments. Will and James give their update on the Lobos and talk about recent reports of Utah and other programs pursuing UNM head coach Richard Pitino.

Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron start the third episode of “The New Mexican Sports Den” by discussing the recent arrest of Robertson boys basketball coach James Branch, who was charged with criminal sexual contact with a minor on Friday. Barron shares his reporting on the story and the implications for a Robertson team that is a contender in Class 3A. The guys then offer an overview of the prep hoops landscape as we enter district tournament play. On the boys’ side, they talk about the strength of the field in Class 4A and local contenders in 3A, including St. Michael’s, Robertson and Santa Fe Indian School. Will and James then get into Lobos talk, discussing the race in the Mountain West and scenarios for the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team as the end of the regular season quickly approaches. They close the show by looking back at the high school state meets in swimming and diving, as well as wrestling.

Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron open the second episode of “The New Mexican Sports Den” by gloating about the viewership numbers for their first episode, then get right into Lobos chatter.  The guys discuss the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team’s big win over Utah State that put the Lobos in the driver’s seat in the Mountain West Conference and talk about how recent injuries could impact the team going forward. They then talk about the strength of the Mountain West and how many teams could make the NCAA Tournament. Will and James share their thoughts on what seed they think the Lobos could earn in the tournament, and wrap up Lobos talk by reminiscing about former football head coach Bob Davie.  After getting some upsetting news from his HVAC repairman during the break, Will returns for the second segment where the guys turn their attention to prep sports. They start by discussing boys basketball, with James quizzing Will about Santa Fe High district titles. They also touch on local contenders in the upcoming state wrestling and swimming competitions.

After a five-year hiatus, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron are back on the mic for the rebirth and rebrand of their podcast. In their first episode of “The New Mexican Sports Den,” Will and James give an overview of the prep basketball scene, touching on which Northern New Mexico teams could be a factor as we approach tournament time.  In the second segment, the University of New Mexico’s men’s basketball team is highlighted as Will and James discuss the Lobos’ strong play that has them perched atop the Mountain West Conference. They also look ahead at the future of the team beyond this season as well as the future of the conference amid the topsy-turvy landscape of college sports. Will also checks on how James is handling the drubbing his beloved Kansas City Chiefs suffered in the Super Bowl.