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May 9—There's a new Lobo DOBO in town. And it's not her first time in the Pit.
UNM men's basketball coach Eric Olen on Thursday announced the hiring of Tahlia Garza as the team's new Director of Basketball Operations. Garza spent the past three seasons working for the Santa Clara women's basketball team, most recently in the same capacity as operations director. She graduated from UC Irvine in 2021, where she played for four seasons for the Anteaters.
"We are really excited to add Tahlia to our staff," Olen said in a release. "She has been part of successful programs, both as a player and staff member. Her intelligence, attention to detail and enthusiasm will add value to our program. I am thrilled to welcome Tahlia to the Lobo Family."
Added Garza, "I'm excited to join the University of New Mexico and contribute to the rich tradition of Lobo Basketball. I look forward to supporting the program and helping our student-athletes succeed on and off the court."
Garza, from Morgan Hill, California, earned a bachelor's in sociology from UC Irvine in 2021 and a master's in educational leadership from Santa Clara in 2024.
In November 2017, Garza played three games in the Pit in UNM's Thanksgiving Tournament.
The 6-foot-2 Garza started all three games at center for the Anteaters, averaging 3.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in losses to UNM, Illinois and Wichita State.
As for how she wound up at UNM now, Olen certainly got an in-depth scouting report on her from her previous bosses.
In the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons at Santa Clara, she worked for women's head coach Bill Carr, who coached Olen in college and then hired Olen as an assistant at UC San Diego 21 years ago. Last year, Carr joined the UC San Diego staff working for Olen as general manager — a position he still holds there.
Last year, Garza worked for Santa Clara coach Mike Floyd, who went to the same high school in Mobile, Alabama, as Olen.
Both gave high recommendations for Garza.
Officially official...
Though their announcements of committing to the Lobos were made in the past week, UNM on Friday for the first time confirmed that guards Deyton Albury, a transfer from Utah State, and Tajavis Miller, a transfer from North Dakota State, have signed and been accepted to enroll at UNM.
Albury, a 6-2 point guard and native of Nassau, Bahamas, announced his commitment last week. He started 23 games for Utah State last season and played at Queens College before that.
"Deyton is an athletic two-way guard with an elite ability to put pressure on the rim," Olen said. "His experience and production in the Mountain West should allow him to make a significant impact for us next season. We're thrilled to welcome Deyton and his family to the Lobo family."
Miller, a 6-4 guard from Lubbock, Texas, announced his commitment earlier this week. He played three seasons for North Dakota State and was this past season's Summit League Sixth Man of the Year.
"Tajavis is a versatile guard who excels both on and off the ball," said Olen. "His ability to create his own shot and make an impact on the boards is incredibly valuable to our style of play. We're excited that Tajavis and his family have chosen to be part of Lobo Nation."
High praise for Olen
College basketball reporter Sam Federman of MidMajorMadness.com, which operates under the SB Nation umbrella, penned a column this week naming the "3 best mid-major coaching hires in the 2025 cycle."
Listed first was UNM's Olen.
"If you told somebody about this season's UCSD team when Olen took over the job in 2013, they couldn't possibly have believed you," Federman wrote, before detailing much of the past dozen seasons of the Tritons' climb under Olen to being Division II national title contenders then making the four-year transition to Division I, where they won 30 games and played in the NCAA Tournament in their first year eligible to do so.
"But it's not just the wins and losses that make Olen an impressive hire," Federman wrote. "It's the way he's able to evaluate talent and recruit to his scheme. Four of UCSD's five starters were Division II transfers, and they come from all over the place.
"Olen is a proven winner at multiple levels of college basketball at just 44 years old, and will continue to win plenty of games in Albuquerque."
Continue reading...
UNM men's basketball coach Eric Olen on Thursday announced the hiring of Tahlia Garza as the team's new Director of Basketball Operations. Garza spent the past three seasons working for the Santa Clara women's basketball team, most recently in the same capacity as operations director. She graduated from UC Irvine in 2021, where she played for four seasons for the Anteaters.
"We are really excited to add Tahlia to our staff," Olen said in a release. "She has been part of successful programs, both as a player and staff member. Her intelligence, attention to detail and enthusiasm will add value to our program. I am thrilled to welcome Tahlia to the Lobo Family."
Added Garza, "I'm excited to join the University of New Mexico and contribute to the rich tradition of Lobo Basketball. I look forward to supporting the program and helping our student-athletes succeed on and off the court."
Garza, from Morgan Hill, California, earned a bachelor's in sociology from UC Irvine in 2021 and a master's in educational leadership from Santa Clara in 2024.
In November 2017, Garza played three games in the Pit in UNM's Thanksgiving Tournament.
The 6-foot-2 Garza started all three games at center for the Anteaters, averaging 3.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in losses to UNM, Illinois and Wichita State.
As for how she wound up at UNM now, Olen certainly got an in-depth scouting report on her from her previous bosses.
In the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons at Santa Clara, she worked for women's head coach Bill Carr, who coached Olen in college and then hired Olen as an assistant at UC San Diego 21 years ago. Last year, Carr joined the UC San Diego staff working for Olen as general manager — a position he still holds there.
Last year, Garza worked for Santa Clara coach Mike Floyd, who went to the same high school in Mobile, Alabama, as Olen.
Both gave high recommendations for Garza.
Officially official...
Though their announcements of committing to the Lobos were made in the past week, UNM on Friday for the first time confirmed that guards Deyton Albury, a transfer from Utah State, and Tajavis Miller, a transfer from North Dakota State, have signed and been accepted to enroll at UNM.
Albury, a 6-2 point guard and native of Nassau, Bahamas, announced his commitment last week. He started 23 games for Utah State last season and played at Queens College before that.
"Deyton is an athletic two-way guard with an elite ability to put pressure on the rim," Olen said. "His experience and production in the Mountain West should allow him to make a significant impact for us next season. We're thrilled to welcome Deyton and his family to the Lobo family."
Miller, a 6-4 guard from Lubbock, Texas, announced his commitment earlier this week. He played three seasons for North Dakota State and was this past season's Summit League Sixth Man of the Year.
"Tajavis is a versatile guard who excels both on and off the ball," said Olen. "His ability to create his own shot and make an impact on the boards is incredibly valuable to our style of play. We're excited that Tajavis and his family have chosen to be part of Lobo Nation."
High praise for Olen
College basketball reporter Sam Federman of MidMajorMadness.com, which operates under the SB Nation umbrella, penned a column this week naming the "3 best mid-major coaching hires in the 2025 cycle."
Listed first was UNM's Olen.
"If you told somebody about this season's UCSD team when Olen took over the job in 2013, they couldn't possibly have believed you," Federman wrote, before detailing much of the past dozen seasons of the Tritons' climb under Olen to being Division II national title contenders then making the four-year transition to Division I, where they won 30 games and played in the NCAA Tournament in their first year eligible to do so.
"But it's not just the wins and losses that make Olen an impressive hire," Federman wrote. "It's the way he's able to evaluate talent and recruit to his scheme. Four of UCSD's five starters were Division II transfers, and they come from all over the place.
"Olen is a proven winner at multiple levels of college basketball at just 44 years old, and will continue to win plenty of games in Albuquerque."
Continue reading...
