New Mexico gives basketball coach Craig Neal pay raise

New Mexico gave head men’s basketball coach Craig Neal a $200,000 raise. He is now the highest-paid coach in the Mountain West Conference.

New Mexico gave head men’s basketball coach Craig Neal a $200,000 raise, making him the highest-paid basketball coach in the Mountain West Conference.

Neal will now make $950,000 per season during a contract that will keep him at the school through the 2019-20 season.

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According to the Albuquerque Journal, the contract was signed in July, but not announced until Monday so it wouldn’t take attention away from the school’s football team.

"Leadership and continuity are crucial aspects of leading a program,” New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs said in a statement. “In his short time as head coach, Craig has done an exemplary job of coaching his team, mentoring his student-athletes and leading a top-25 program."

Neal, 50, led New Mexico to a 27-7 record in his first season with the school. The Lobos won the Mountain West Conference tournament and lost in the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament to Stanford. 

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