Jason Eck, 49, has become one of college football's hottest coaching names after leading the University of New Mexico to a 7-1 record, the program's first AP Top 25 ranking in school history, and an unbeaten mark in Mountain West play. The Lobos' turnaround caps a 23-year assistant coaching odyssey that included 12 different head coaches, multiple firings, and even a stint maintaining a university golf course.
Eck's breakthrough moment came on Christmas Eve 2010, when he was fired from Ball State the same night his wife Kimberly went into labor with their son Palmer. The family endured years of instability, moving across the country for jobs at Colorado, Idaho, Winona State, Ball State, Hampton, Western Illinois, Minnesota State, Montana State, and South Dakota State. At Western Illinois, Eck was reassigned to service lawn mowers and work in a campus transit center after the head coach was fired.
A turning point arrived at South Dakota State, where head coach John Stiegelmeier told Eck he would be a very good head coach someday. Eck became offensive coordinator, won the AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2019, and helped the Jackrabbits reach the national championship game in the spring of 2021.
Eck landed his first head coaching job at Idaho in December 2021, going 26-13 with three FCS playoff appearances in three seasons. He accepted the New Mexico position on December 14, 2024, inheriting a program that had averaged only four wins over the previous 17 years. In his first season, the Lobos went 9-4, routed UCLA 35-10 at the Rose Bowl, and reached a bowl game for the first time since 2016. Eck was named Mountain West Coach of the Year and signed a five-year, $8.75 million contract.
This season, New Mexico ranks No. 1 nationally in scoring defense (11.9 points per game) and leads the country in turnover margin at plus-17. The team has overcome significant injuries, including starting quarterback Jack Layne (elbow surgery) and Eck's son Jaxton, a linebacker who broke a bone in his shoulder. Backup quarterback Toa Fa'avae has stepped in, becoming one of only four quarterbacks with more interceptions than touchdowns to lead a winning team.
Family remains central to Eck's story. His wife Kimberly has supported the family through lean years, working as a nanny and in remote customer service. Their son Jaxton turned down NIL offers estimated between $600,000 and $700,000 to remain at New Mexico, saying, "Money's not the most important thing to me. I don't love football to make money." The couple's other children are also involved with the program.
Speculation about Eck's future has intensified with four major college coaching vacancies. His name has surfaced for openings at Wisconsin (his alma mater) and Colorado, where his former athletic director Fernando Lovo now works. Eck's buyout is $4 million, though a clause reportedly reduces it to $2 million for 12 months if he follows Lovo. Eck insists he will be selective: "If I ever leave here, it's going to have to be an incredible opportunity that I couldn't turn down."
Known for his fiery sideline demeanor, viral video skits (including a "The Office" parody as a character named Jeff), and personal connections with players and their families, Eck has cultivated a unique culture. Center Kaden Robnett, who followed Eck from Idaho, notes, "He knows families, parents' names. He knows my wife's name. He'll talk to my wife about the games, too."
The Ecks maintain superstitions, including a weekly lunch at Albuquerque's Cheese and Coffee during the season — changing restaurants only after a loss. After years of financial strain, Kimberly Eck recently remarked on their newfound stability: "Thank God we can actually afford to fix our roof."
