EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — New Mexico State University dismissed its athletic director, Mario Moccia, on Thursday.
Jason Groves of the Las Cruces Sun News first to report Moccia’s firing.
Just after noon on Thursday, New Mexico State University President Valerio Ferme announced Moccia would “depart NMSU as the university’s athletics director.”
“Earlier today, I met with Mario Moccia to let him know that I intend to go in a different direction the leadership of NMSU’s Athletic Department,” Ferme wrote in a memo sent out on Thursday. “After carefully reviewing the recent report issued by the New Mexico Department of Justice, I felt we needed a fresh start in our athletics program. Notwithstanding the current decision, I want to thank Mario for the work he has done for NMSU athletics over the years.”
The New Mexico Department of Justice released a 68-page report on the hazing and sexual misconduct allegations imposed on the 2022-23 NMSU men’s basketball team.
Ferme’s decision to dismiss Moccia came on his second day on the job. Ferme, who was named NMSU’s president in September 2024, officially took over as president on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
Moccia has been NMSU’s athletic director for almost a decade. Moccia was hired as NMSU’s athletic director in 2015. Moccia replaced McKinley Boston. Under Moccia’s direction, NMSU won more than 50 conference championships and got the university into Conference USA in 2023.
Some of NMSU’s highlights while Moccia was AD were NMSU football winning ten games and playing for a Conference USA Championship in 2023, and the men’s basketball team making four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Alongside the accomplishments, there was the Mike Peake incident and the hazing and sexual misconduct allegations that shut down the NMSU men’s basketball season in 2022-23.
Ferme also announced that Amber Burdge, NMSU’s deputy athletics director for strategic initiatives and leadership, would be the acting athletic director, effective immediately.
Ferme and Burdge will speak to the media during a brief news conference Friday morning.
This article will be updated with more information throughout the day.
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