Men’s basketball head coach Eric Olen leaves for New Mexico, associate head coach Clint Allard takes reins

Alan Zhang, Senior Staff Writer

Mar 30, 2025

Photo by Justin Lu/ UCSD Guardian

After 21 years in La Jolla, Eric Olen will not be returning to the Triton sideline next season.

The longtime Triton head coach has been named New Mexico’s next head coach, per Pete Thamel of ESPN, and announced by the Lobos shortly after. This comes only a week after UCSD’s Round of 64 loss to Michigan.

New Mexico is coming off a 27-8 season in which they won the Mountain West regular season. They defeated Marquette in the first round of March Madness, before losing to Michigan State in the Round of 32.

Olen joined the UCSD coaching staff right out of college in 2004 as an assistant coach. In 2013, he was named head coach. He led the Tritons to consistent success in Division II, steered their transition to Division I, and helped establish the program as a Big West title contender. This past season was Olen’s finest; the Tritons recorded 30 wins, won their first-ever Big West title, and achieved a March Madness berth in their first season of eligibility.

Olen had just signed a new contract a year ago and earned $485,000 this past season, including salary and bonuses. His contract buyout was $150,000, which is a very affordable price tag for many top programs. His new contract with the Lobos likely includes a substantially higher salary; former head coach Richard Pitino — who left the Lobos for Xavier last week — was earning $1.2 million a year at New Mexico.

Within hours of the move, UC San Diego announced that it was promoting associate head coach Clint Allard to the top job. The former Triton starter first joined as an assistant coach in 2008 and has served as associate head coach since 2014. He notably developed the Tritons’ unique defensive scheme, which frustrated offenses last season and played a critical role in the team’s success.

“I am truly honored and excited to step into the role of UC San Diego Men’s Basketball Head Coach,” Allard said in a statement from UC San Diego Athletics. “UC San Diego is a remarkable institution that I have been fortunate to be a part of for many years, and the opportunity to lead this program is a dream come true.”

About the Contributors

Alan Zhang, Senior Staff Writer

Alan Zhang is one of the most sought after and well regarded sports journalists in the modern world. Previously working at UK soccer outlet FromTheSpot, he has since taken his talents to the UCSD Guardian, where millions (very rough estimation) read his articles examining UCSD basketball and various professional sports.

Justin Lu, Photographer

When not watching video essays on design and gaming, can be found at events or working on silly programming projects. Hit me up for music recs, to give music recs, or for macOS keyboard shortcuts!

Comments (0)

The UCSD Guardian is committed to defending free speech and encouraging discussion in our comments. Submitted comments will first be screened by The Guardian before being posted publicly to verify if the comment is overly prejudiced, spam, obscene, mean-spirited, or an unwarranted personal attack. If the comment is determined to primarily hold these qualities, it may not be approved to be posted. Further, if the comment is written by an unidentifiable individual (email is not verified and/or clear alias is used), the comment may also be denied. In general, The Guardian leans towards lenience; however, if your comment is found to be purely in bad faith towards creating or engaging in meaningful dialogue by the outlined standards, it will not be approved. A comment’s approval or lack thereof does not reflect The UCSD Guardian’s position on the comment’s argument. Please be patient with us, as your comment may be approved after a short delay. If you have urgent concerns about your comment, you may contact our Managing Editor.

Share your thoughts...

All The UCSD Guardian Picks Sort: Newest