Just one season at the helm, and Eric Olen has already convinced the New Mexico Lobos he's their guy for the long haul. The school announced Monday that Olen has signed a five-year contract extension, locking in the head coach after a promising debut campaign.

The Lobos posted a solid 26-11 record in the 2025-26 season, narrowly missing out on an NCAA tournament berth. But the program's leadership saw enough potential in that performance to invest in Olen's future with a deal that extends his original agreement by one year, with built-in salary increases for years three, four, and five.

"This past year has been an amazing experience for me and my family," Olen said in the announcement. "It's an honor to lead this program and walking down the ramp on game day is something I will never take for granted. The support from this community and passion of our fan base make the University of New Mexico a truly special place."

Before taking over in Albuquerque, Olen spent five seasons as head coach at UC San Diego, where he compiled an 81-63 record. His transition to the Mountain West Conference has been smooth, and the Lobos are clearly betting that his foundation-building approach will pay off with tournament runs in the years to come.

For New Mexico fans, this extension signals a vote of confidence in a coach who has quickly embraced the program's passionate culture—and one who is just getting started.