2013

Tim Cass has played many roles at the University of New Mexico but one thing throughout his tenure remains consistent; he is a leader and has the accomplishments to show for it.  Cass first came to UNM in 1982 and quickly made his mark in the UNM tennis program.  A three-time All-Western Athletic Conference honoree, WAC doubles champion, and three-time NCAA qualifier, he was named the captain of the tennis team his senior year.  One of his biggest achievements, Cass earned All-America status his senior year as he and double’s partner, Steve Bickham, advanced to the quarterfinal of double’s play at the 1986 NCAA Championships in Athens, Georgia.  After graduating from UNM with a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1986, he went on to play the European and U.S. professional tennis circuits but it didn’t take long for him to return to New Mexico.

 At the age of 23, Cass became the youngest head coach in UNM history in 1987 as he returned to the Lobo Men’s Tennis program.   As the new coach of the Lobos he helped guide the team from a sixth place WAC finish in his first year to winning five consecutive WAC Conference Titles starting his third season as head coach.  During his tenure as head coach, the men’s tennis team marked the programs first ever trip to the NCAA Championships and garnered national attention in the rankings.  The 1995 team climbed all the way up to a No. 6 national ranking. 

The national recognition caught the attention of then Big 12 school, Texas A&M, who hired Cass in 1997.  He was one of the most respected Division I head coaches in the nation and helped guide both Lobo and Aggie programs to unprecedented success.  His great leadership led his teams to 16 consecutive NCAA appearances-six with UNM and 10 with Texas A&M.  Cass was named conference Coach of the Year eight times and a finalist for National Coach of the Year four times in his 18 years of coaching. Because of his skill and influence on the game, he was asked to coach the United States Collegiate National Team in 1999-2000.

The level of respect that Cass still has in the world of tennis is obvious.  University of Texas head coach Michael Center refers to Cass as a, “pioneer in our (tennis) sport,” stating that he was creative in promoting and advancing the sport of tennis, an ambassador of the game.   Former Stanford University head coach and current Stanford Director of Tennis Dick Gould was quoted saying, “He’s the best. He’s done a good job everywhere he’s been. He’s energetic and has a wonderful, out-reaching, engaging personality”.  All of these characteristics are the same qualities that he has brought back to UNM as the Deputy Athletic Director.

Named UNM Senior Associate Athletic Director in 2006, Cass has successfully assisted in raising money for UNM Athletics, helped in the hiring of numerous head coaches, and led the effort on “The Pit” renovation. A proud member of the UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Association Board of Directors and other boards and committees, he has always found time to give back to his sport and community throughout his career. 

 No stranger to accomplishment, Cass graduated over 95% of student athletes as a coach, was named US Tennis Industry Magazine’s One of Forty Most Influential Persons Under Forty (July 2000), and was named Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame 1991 Coach of the Year. In May of 2011, he was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Tennis Hall of Fame for his work as a collegiate tennis coach and administrator. He has also authored the current NCAA Tennis Championship format.  No matter where he goes or what he does, Cass seems to always find the opportunity to stand out with his leadership ability and his execution of bringing success to those around him.  Fortunately for the Lobos, his passion and vision is directly serving the UNM Athletic Department. 

Caroline S. Keggi began her career as a Lobo Golfer in 1982-1987; she is the definition of hard work. The saying is “hard work pays off” and she has career accomplishments to show for it.

In 1980, Keggi started her amateur years collecting gold trophies with a victory in the Connecticut Junior Championship. Two years later she won the New England Junior and was runner-up in the USGA Junior Girls Championship. In 1983, she won the Women’s Western Junior Championship and was named an AJGA All-American. In addition to that she has the titles of four time Connecticut Women’s champion (1984-1987), two time New England Women’s champion (1984-85), Connecticut’s Women Athlete of the Year (1985), and the California State Amateur Championship (1987).

As a Lobo, Keggi made her mark.  A transfer from Ohio State she was named to the WAC All-Conference team three times in her collegiate career at UNM. Each year she worked her way up.  As a sophomore she finished 24^th at the NCAA Championship, tied for 2^nd in her junior season and finally came away as the NCAA Individual Champion in the spring of 1987, her senior season.  She captured the national title on her home turf at UNM’s Championship South Golf Course in a playoff over Anne Jones of San Jose State.   Keggi was our first- and to this day- the only national champion in women’s golf at the University of New Mexico.  Keggi earned All-America honors two times and was received the Honda Broderick Award for Golf which is the most prestigious honor a collegiate player can earn.

Keggi’s amateur success did not stop there as she was runner-up at the Trans-National, a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup Team and was nominated for the Women’s Sports Foundation Amateur Athlete of the Year. In addition to that she had the honor of being named Albuquerque’s Sports Hall of Fame Female Athlete of the Year in 1986 and 1987.  Keggi concluded her amateur career by winning the 1988 Harder Hall and Women’s South Atlantic Championship.

Keggi’s professional career began in 1988 with her outstanding amateur record, she was invited to play in the 1988 Nabisco Dinah Shore, where she finished fourth place, which is the highest finish ever by an amateur in the prestigious major championship. During her rookie year in 1989, she posted six top 20 finishes and a year later she recorded her career-low round of 67 during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open and posted seven top-10 finishes, including second place at the Stratton Mountain Classic. Continuing her professional career in 1991 she had five top-10 finishes, her best finish was second place at the LPGA Bay State Classic and five top-10 finishes (1992). In March 1993, Keggi was diagnosed with the E-Coli bacteria.  Although she was suffering through her symptoms throughout the season, she fought through the pain and competed in a full schedule of 25 events and did not let anything stop her; she is one tough lady. As Lobo’s always do she fought on and in 1994 posted a tie for 13^th at the Standard Register PING.

On Dec. 8, 1999, Keggi was inducted into the Connecticut State Golf Association Hall of Fame. She has had an outstanding golf career and deserves all of her accomplishments. She credits her family and Floyd Gensler as the individuals most influencing her career. 

Terance Mathis came to the University of New Mexico unheralded, unrecruited and unsure of what the future would hold for him.  By the time the 5-foot-9, Georgia native left the Lobos at the end of the 1989 season, he had set a plethora of records and made an impact on the Lobo football program that will never be forgotton. 

                Mathis became New Mexico’s first-ever football consensus All-American in 1989 after having his finest season ever in the cherry and Silver, all while redefining the standards for the collegiate wide receiver. 

                When he left UNM, Mathis was the NCAA career record holder for receiving with 4,254 yards.  He also took over the top spot on the NCAA list for career receptions with 263.  Mathis became the first player in NCAA history to record more than 250 receptions, 4,000 receiving yards and 6,000 all-purpose yards during the course of a collegiate career. 

                The notes on Mathis’s career could easily fill a small book.  He caught at least one pass in 28-consecutive games and in 43-of-44 during his career.  He was named First Team All-Western Athletic Conference three consecutive seasons and had 17 career games with more than 100 yards receiving.  In 1987 and 1989 he was named the UNM Reese Hill Award winner, given to the Top Offensive Player, and was also the Bill Brainin Most Valuable Player .  Mathis’ best day as a Lobo receiver was on November 11, 1989, against then-conference foe Utah.  He hauled in 16 passes for 252 yards and scored three touchdowns.  Mathis ended his UNM career by playing in the 1990 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama

                Described by scouts as too small and too slow to play professional football, Mathis again defied the odds as he spent a 13 years playing in the NFL (1990-2002).  A sixth-round draft pick by the New York Jets in 1990, he was a strong punt and kick returner, eventually leading the team in kickoff returns. 

In 1994, as an unrestricted free agent, Mathis signed with the Atlanta Falcons and returned to his home state.  Mathis was all-Pro in 1994 and the Falcons’ leading receiver in the 1999 Super Bowl.  To this day, he sits at No. 2 on the Atlanta Falcon franchise record book for most career touchdowns, No. 1 for most career and single-season two-point conversions,   No. 2 for most career and season-single passes caught, No. 2 for most career yards gained receiving, and No. 1 for the most career touchdown receptions.  In 1998, Mathis was recognized as the National Football League’s,  “Man of the Year,” for his accomplishments on and off the field.  He completed his NFL career playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers finishing with 689 receptions for 8,809 yards and 63 touchdowns. 

Outside of football, Mathis has been a success in the community and in the sport of NASCAR racing.  In 1996 he founded the “Terance Loves Children” Foundation, which is now known as the “Terance Mathis Foundation” and focuses on serving the Atlanta community by adopting Christmas families, distributing Easter baskets, and supporting other charities in their efforts to assist those in need. 

For NASCAR, Mathis first got involved by forming Victory Motorsports in 2005.  Today he serves as the Vice President of Marketing for Leavine Family Racing. 

Mathis continues to be a great ambassador for UNM Athletics simply by being a great person.  Former teammate Aaron Givens says, “To be able to call Terance a friend for life means a lot.  Not because of his celebrity status, but because of who he is as a person, father and contributor to society.”    

“Frankie was an outstanding role model for students at Albuquerque High. He did everything!” hails beloved Bulldog coach and 2008 Hall of Honor inductee Jim Hulsman. After lettering in three sports at AHS and graduating in the top of his class, Frank Sedillo’s main goal was to attend UNM and get an education. But he also liked to play football.

At 5-foot-9, 165 pounds he enrolled at UNM and joined the Lobo Football team as a walk-on in 1978. Sedillo showed promise immediately and eventually was awarded a full scholarship serving as a defensive cornerback for the Lobos. Sedillo was a four-time Western Athletic Conference All-Academic honoree, received the Stan Bates Award as the WAC’s top scholar-athlete in 1981 and was named a Dean Lena Clauve recipient—awarded to UNM graduating seniors based on leadership, involvement and academics.

A business grad, Sedillo sampled the Washington scene as an aide to US Senator Pete Domenici for a year before returning to UNM’s Law School.  He completed his juris doctor degree in 1987.  A practicing lawyer for 13 years, Sedillo was exposed to the full gamut of law: civil and criminal, family and corporate.

Around the same time Sedillo began practicing law, he went back to the game of football, but this time as a coach for the Young American Football League (YAFL). Off and on since 1988, he have given his heart and time to kids, emulating the coaches who had played such a role in his own youth. He is a licensed football coach and official with the New Mexico Activities Association. He has previously served as YAFL President and as a member of the board of directors.

Sedillo’s eyes glisten when he speaks about his time at UNM playing football. He is hard pressed to say “no” to volunteering and giving back to UNM. Always a Lobo, Sedillo has served on the UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Association Board of Directors since 1994, including a term as president and multiple years as co-chair of the Hall of Honor.

In 2000, Sedillo was elected a judge in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. When not at court, he volunteers for the Lobo Club, Albuquerque Public Schools, YAFL, the New Mexico State Bar and the Center for Civic Values. He also hosts, “The Advocate,” a City of Albuquerque television show that answers and instructs citizens in legal matters.  Sedillo’s passion, however, continues to be coaching and serving as a mentor to young boys.

Whether addressing him as a Coach or a Judge, he has been a role model for us all. The UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Association is honored to present Judge Sedillo the 2013 Distinguished Service Award.

To his teammates, Paul Smith was known as “Smooth Smitty,” to his close friends he was “Chick.”  Smith was born on August 13, 1945 and had five brothers and eight sisters. Raised in Roswell, New Mexico where he was a star on the Roswell High School basketball, football and track & field teams, and by the time he was an upperclassman he had numerous college choices nationwide.  Lucky for the Lobos, he chose the University of New Mexico.

Smith’s sister Arlene Smith-Curl says as a young boy Smith loved sports, especially football. His mother fondly and proudly repeated the story of how “even as a little boy he carried his football with him everywhere he went, putting it aside long enough to eat or bathe only.”  According to his mother, Smith even slept with his football at his side. He loved the game and embraced his football dreams, working very hard to make it happen. Maxie Williams, a childhood friend of Smith’s, says that as a young boy his athletic ability was evident.

Smith came to UNM as a freshman on a football scholarship in 1964.  Due to his athleticism, he was asked to play freshman basketball as a Lobo.  As a sophomore he was able to join the varsity football team where he was a three-year starter on defense. Smith was also the first sophomore to be named Lineman of the Year in 1965. During his college career he was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference twice, was recognized as All-WAC by United Press International (UPI), and was UNM’s top defensive player, earning him the J.H. Golightly award. On top of his athletic prowess at UNM, he also served military duties in the National Guard starting his junior year.  Without a doubt, he was the total package.

In March of 1968 Smith was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the ninth round of the NFL draft.  He played with the Broncos for 11 years and was a member of the famed Orange Crush defense.  Named a Pro Bowl lineman twice in his career, he also played in the first Bronocos Super Bowl ever in 1977.  His efforts weren’t left unnoticed in Denver as he was twice named defensive captain and earned the Bronco’s Earl Hartman Memorial Award for being the most outstanding defensive player.  Although Smith completed his NFL career with the Washington Redskins, he was never forgotten in Denver.  In 1986 he was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame. 

One recollection that seems to come up over and over again from his former teammates, friends and family members is that Smith was a very kind and compassionate person.  From a young age, he cared about those in poverty and the elderly. It is evident from many stories that his kindheartedness and spirit of generosity did not leave him when he became successful. Smith bought his mother her first home and also provided financial support to another elderly woman in his Denver community which enabled her to buy her first home. Another story of generosity recounted by Smith-Curl is about a man who reached out to her to tell her that her brother saved him and helped to get him on his feet after being a hopeless, homeless alcoholic. The man told Smith-Curl that if it was not for her brother, he probably would still be living in those conditions today.  With Smith’s help the homeless man was able to get the professional help he needed and Smith even paid for his college education. This is just one of the many stories of Smith’s generosity. Not only was Smith a successful athlete, but a kind-hearted man who cared for others. Paul Smith died in 2000 from pancreatic cancer, but the memory of the man with the utmost character and achieve

University of New Mexico men’s golf coach Glen Millican would be the last person in the world to say it, but he did a pretty remarkable job during the 2012-13 season.

The Lobos’ 13^th-year coach, already the owner of four Mountain West championships, led his team to a fifth Mountain West crown in the spring of 2013. But he didn’t stop there.

His Lobos also won the NCAA Columbus Regional and then made a comeback for the ages at the NCAA Championship in Alpharetta, Ga. UNM, in 27^th place among the 30 teams after the first round, stormed its way up the leaderboard to a tie for sixth in the 54-hole stroke play portion and qualified for the eight-team match play competition to determine a national champion.

UNM finished fifth in the nation in 2013, matching Millican’s 2005 team for the best national finish during his tenure. Millican won the Mountain West Coach of the Year Award, for the third time in his career and last season was a finalist for the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year award.

The 2012-13 team won five tournaments, pushing Millican’s overall win total to 22. That total is second all-time in school history. He had two golfers earn All-America honors in senior James Erkenbeck (first team) and sophomore Gavin Green (third team).

The Lobos placed four players on the All-Mountain West team (Erkenbeck, Green, senior John Catlin and sophomore Victor Perez), which set a UNM and MW record. The four also earned PING All-West Region honors.

Millican also had two Academic All-America student-athletes in Catlin and senior Benjamin Bauch, pushing that total to 18 during his tenure.

And last but not least, Millican’s Lobos earned a spot on the Golf Coaches Association of America 2013 National All-Academic Team with a 3.28 cumulative grade-point average during the 2013-14 academic year.

Millican’s teams traditionally make an impact on the golf course, in the classroom and in the community. A former Lobo himself, Millican proves time and again that good guys can finish first.

Congratulations to coach Glen Millican, the quintessential representative of UNM athletics!

When you think of a Lobo student-athlete that excelled on and off the court, it’s pretty hard to top the career of women’s basketball alumnus Caroline Durbin.

Durbin became the program’s first-ever back-to-back Academic All-American in her junior and senior seasons. She was only the second player in the history of the Mountain West Conference to accomplish the feat. She also re-wrote New Mexico’s record books as well.

Durbin became the 17^th player in program history to score 1,000 points in her career. She is also second all-time in three-point field goal percentage in a career and in a season. Her shooting touch extended to the foul line where is in the top ten in career free throw percentage and free throw percentage in a season as well.

Durbin graduated from the University of New Mexico with a 4.18 cumulative gpa in Business Administration and is working on her master’s degree at the University of Texas. She was the 2012-13 Lobo Club Student-Athlete of the Year as well her senior year.

In 2012 Mitch Garver had a breakout season for the Lobo baseball program that was so good it would be nearly impossible to match, let alone beat, in 2013. Well, the Albuquerque native and La Cueva grad might have pulled it off. He was named Mountain West Co-Player of the Year, again. He was one of three national finalists for the Johnny Bench Award, again. He was an All-American, again, but this time his play earned him first team honors.

No one in the history of the UNM baseball program was more durable, dependable and reliable than he was. He started the final 181 games of his career over his last three seasons to set a new school record for consecutive starts. Despite playing the most physically demanding position on the diamond, catcher, he finished his career ranked in the Top 10 at UNM, and first among backstops, in career games, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, RBI and total bases. He also had a 26-game hitting streak in 2013, the sixth longest in school history.

As a senior he hit a career-best .390 with 21 doubles, six home runs, and 68 RBI to help the Lobos set numerous conference records on their way to winning the Mountain West regular-season title. Garver helped UNM end a 48-year postseason drought in 2010 and proceeded to lead them to an NCAA Regional in each of his four years on campus. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the ninth round of the MLB Draft last June.

Garver was just as skilled in the classroom as he was on the field as he was a four-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree. He graduated with a degree in physical therapy and had a GPA above 3.5.