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Trib's Newsmaker of the Year for 2006: Paul Krebs

Lobos director of athletics thrust into spotlight as replacement for retired AD Rudy Davalos

By Richard Stevens
Saturday, December 30, 2006

New Mexico Athletics Director Paul Krebs, The Tribune's pick as Newsmaker of the Year in 2006, leaves University Stadium after checking on the progress of snow removal before the New Mexico Bowl. Krebs was hired in May to replace longtime AD Rudy Davalos, who retired after 13 years. At left is Tim Cass, UNM's senior associate AD.

Photo by Craig FritzTribune

Tribune

New Mexico Athletics Director Paul Krebs, The Tribune's pick as Newsmaker of the Year in 2006, leaves University Stadium after checking on the progress of snow removal before the New Mexico Bowl. Krebs was hired in May to replace longtime AD Rudy Davalos, who retired after 13 years. At left is Tim Cass, UNM's senior associate AD.

The nature of the seat often determines The Tribune Sports Newsmaker of The Year.

If you plop your butt down in The Pit or at University Stadium, you have a good shot at this distinction.

If you are a Lobo of any kind, you have a chance since the main current of sports passion in Albuquerque often swirls around the games played by the University of New Mexico.

And if you are the guy who supervises those seats - those Lobos - you are in the running, too.

That's what brings Paul Krebs, UNM's director of athletics, into the spotlight as The Tribune's 2006 Newsmaker of The Year.

Krebs is in the hot seat as a media darling because he makes decisions on the Lobos sitting in the really hot seats - Rocky Long, Ritchie McKay, Don Flanagan and the Lobos who coach the so-called minor sports at UNM.

Krebs already found a few empty seats to fill in 2006. He lost a softball coach and a volleyball coach.

He also has some empty seats to worry about at University Arena and University Stadium.

And Krebs might be responsible for a few of those empty seats in football.

Krebs' no re-entry policy at University Stadium was a controversial decision that became a hot news story as well as a talk piece for Lobos fans and local talk shows.

The attendance for UNM football took a big hit in 2006 (down nearly 10,000 fans per game from the previous year. The dropoff could be blamed in part because the football team got off to a slow start, including a season-opening loss to Division I-AA Portland State.

But it's likely a good number of fans were turned off by Krebs' decision not to allow fans to return to University Stadium after entering the gates.

Krebs also was a player in several other news stories in 2006:

No booze to be sold at University Stadium during the New Mexico Bowl. Well, except limited use by the UNM fat cats in the luxury seats.

Krebs was not happy with an NCAA study about the graduation success of Division I students. UNM had the lowest graduation rate in the country in men's basketball at 7 percent. "This taints the whole athletic program," Krebs said.

Krebs hires a public relations firm to help UNM coaches learn how to improve their image with the media and the public.

Krebs revamps ticket pricing for UNM men's basketball, a package that includes free student tickets to Lobos men's games for students.

Krebs says he plans to monitor more closely UNM athletes, who participate on Web sites such as myspace.com and facebook.com.

Krebs hires Missouri coach Ty Singleton to take over the struggling UNM softball program.

Krebs first made news when he became a finalist to replace Rudy Davalos, who retired in June after 13 years at the Lobos helm.

"I think (UNM) ought to dominate the league," Krebs told The Tribune while in Albuquerque interviewing for the job. "The program is good, but the goal ought to be to be great."

Krebs, the AD at Bowling Green since 1999, was named as Davalos' replacement in May of 2006.

Krebs, who hired Urban Meyer at Bowling Green, signed a package at UNM worth close to $325,000. The package includes up to $25,000 in bonuses based on attendance, team performances, academic performance and fiscal accountability.

"I think it's a dream job," Krebs said.

Of course, at UNM the dreams aren't always pleasant.

Krebs faces pressure in raising money and dealing with fading attendance in football and basketball. There also is fan pressure on whether Krebs needs to make a coaching change in Lobos basketball and Lobos baseball.

And will the no re-entry rule return in 2007?

So, welcome to the hot seat, Mr. Krebs. We'll see you next year.

Richard Stevens is the Trib's deputy sports editor. You can reach him at 823-3663 or rstevens@abqtrib.com.