Eddie Nuñez
Eddie Nuñez enters his fourth year as UNM’s Athletic Director, being named to the top post in athletics on August 31, 2017. Nuñez is UNM’s 13th Athletic Director, dating back to 1911 when Ralph L. Hutchinson was named the school’s first AD. He is just the third AD in the last 25 years, following Rudy Davalos, who served from 1992-2006, and Paul Krebs, who served from 2006 up until he announced his retirement on June 2, 2017.
In August of 2020, Nuñez was named to a 30-person working group by Lead1. The Working Group for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in College Sports will explore initiatives to strengthen senior leadership pipelines, expand professional development opportunities, influence legislation that supports underrepresented populations and recommend strategies of accountability. He is one of three sitting athletic directors to be named to the committee.
Since 2003, Nuñez has served in a variety of high-level administrative capacities at LSU, one of the nation’s top athletic departments. Among his most recent specific duties, Nuñez has had sport oversight of LSU men’s basketball and men’s and women’s tennis. He also has served as the department’s liaison with LSU Sports Properties, the Tiger Athletic Foundation and University Licensing and Brand Management.
While he held seven positions and titles at LSU, the department has continually flourished. Under his guidance, LSU experienced of $400 million in facility renovations and construction, and Nuñez led the renegotiations of a 10-year multi-media rights agreement with Outfront Media Sports.
Additionally, he oversaw the planning and management of the LSU Athletics Strategic Plan, Marketing and Promotions, Athletic Communications, Social and Digital Media, Creative Services, Video/Network Broadcast Services and all capital projects.
While he has made his mark collegiately at LSU, Nuñez began his career as a collegiate administrator at Vanderbilt University, where he was the Director of Game and Event Management.
A former college athlete, Nuñez played four years of basketball, starting at Miami-Dade Community College before transferring to the University of Florida, playing for Billy Donovan. He then spent two seasons as a graduate assistant under Donovan at Florida before being named an administrative assistant at Marquette in the men’s basketball program.
A native of Miami, Florida, Nuñez received his Associate Degree in arts and architecture from Miami-Dade Community College, his Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management and Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from the University of Florida. He is married to the former Jane Hess and the couple are proud parents of two daughters, Elizabeth and Anna.
