The start of a new year called for changes in leadership within the athletic department at New Mexico State University, as President Valerio Ferme announced the university would be parting ways with longtime athletic director Mario Moccia.
Moccia, whose profile has already been removed from the NMSU Athletics website, was hired in 2015, and has overseen some prideful moments in NMSU Athletics, but also moments of disdain and dishonorable conduct.
Those moments include a deadly 2022 shooting at the University of New Mexico campus that involved former basketball player Mike Peake, as well as sexual assault and hazing allegations that shut down the men’s basketball program in early 2023.
In an email sent to NMSU staff and faculty on Thursday, Ferme said that he’s decided to move in a different direction of leadership.
“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,” he said. “Notwithstanding the current decision, I want to thank Mario for the work he has done for NMSU athletics over the years.”
Taking over the reigns as acting athletic director is Dr. Amber Burdge, who previously served as NMSU’s deputy athletic director for strategic initiatives and leadership. Burdge’s appointment is effective immediately.
On Friday, both Ferme and Burdge spoke to the press regarding the decision, where Ferme said parting ways with Moccia was fully his call and had no influence from outside subjects.
“NMSU needed a change because it has been two-and-a-half years that we have been embroiled in controversy with athletics,” he said. “If we want to excel, NMSU should aim to comply with laws, rules, and duties. We need to do better.”
Ferme did not mention how much of Moccia’s contract will be paid out or recouped. In 2023, Moccia was granted a 5-year contract extension and $72,000 raise, taking his yearly salary to $351,000 a year. The deal was signed by former NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu on the same day he stepped away from the university.
The new president also said it is now his objective to implement the protective suggestions outlined in the New Mexico DOJ report, and that he will not start a national search for an athletic director at this time. However, the president mentioned that in six months, he will revisit the idea of a national search for an athletic director if he feels that such a move is necessary.
Burdge said to the press that she knows her values and is ready for the road ahead, as she takes over the helm of heading over 400 student athletes.
“I know my values, I know my standards and I am not going to shy away from those,” Burdge said. “Both President Ferme and I are in alignment on this.”
She added that while there is typically uncertainty in times of leadership transitions, she is confident in her abilities.
“I can ensure you that my whole focus is on moving this athletic department forward and providing the support our student athletes, our coaches and staff need to have an outstanding experience here at New Mexico State University,” she said.
In December, the New Mexico Department of Justice released a 70-page report that highlighted the systemic failures of the NMSU Athletic Department on protecting its student athletes, as well as its failure in allowing a ‘pervasive’ culture of misconduct to take place.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the report intended to shine light on the misconduct by several NMSU basketball players in 2023, but also to highlight the institutional failures of addressing behavior, laxed oversight, inconsistent discipline, and inadequate preventative measures.
The entirety of the New Mexico Department of Justice’s findings and recommendations can be found here.
Following the press conference, The Round Up met up with President Ferme and asked what his message is to both NMSU students and student athletes who may feel that their athletic department is faltered or failed them. Ferme mentioned that NMSU’s commitment to student athletes and students remains.
“We want to create leaders at this university,” he said. “One of the things that I’m really interested in is leadership, and we will be working on that together with athletics, but also separately — so those are things I think are important for students to see.”
