New Mexico State University has decided to part ways with its athletic director, Mario Moccia, following an investigation that criticized the institution’s management of a sexual abuse scandal that led to the suspension of the Aggies men’s basketball program.
The dismissal was announced by Valerio Ferme, who assumed the role of university president at the beginning of the year. In his statement, Ferme indicated that Amber Burdge, who currently serves as the deputy athletic director for strategic initiatives and leadership, will step in as the acting athletic director.
“Upon thoroughly reviewing the recent findings released by the New Mexico Department of Justice, I determined that a new direction was essential for our athletics program,” Ferme remarked. “I have complete faith in Dr. Burdge’s capability to guide our Athletic Department, and I am eager to collaborate with her in the near future.”
Ferme acknowledged Burdge’s significant involvement in the university’s strategic initiatives regarding hazing prevention in her role as the top female administrator and deputy Title IX coordinator.
The legal troubles surrounding the basketball team have intensified, with two former players agreeing to plea deals in connection with the assault charges against them, while a third player is slated for trial next month.
The allegations of assault prompted New Mexico State to halt its 2022-23 season. The institution agreed to pay $8 million earlier this year to resolve a lawsuit from two individuals, former players Deuce Benjamin and Shak Odunewu, who publicly shared their experiences of abuse.
Interestingly, despite the ongoing issues, New Mexico State extended Moccia’s contract by five years in 2023, along with a salary increase of $72,000, bringing his annual compensation to $351,000 for the first year of the new contract, which was intended to last until 2028.
This contract extension coincided with the resignation of chancellor Dan Arvizu, which the university described as a mere coincidence.
The Department of Justice’s review implicated a broader “toxic culture” within the athletic program, noting that the environment did not stem solely from isolated incidents. The review stated that there were “ample opportunities for those surrounding the team to notice and address this toxic culture as it emerged, but they failed to act appropriately to intervene.”
Among the critiques aimed at Moccia was the claim that he did not take sufficient action after becoming aware of the assaults, assuming that notifying the Office of Institutional Equity fulfilled the university’s obligations.
The report highlighted a contradiction in Moccia’s approach, stating, “It is important to recognize that this belief is inconsistent with actual procedure; Director Moccia engaged with and reviewed relevant footage regarding two of the accused players after the OIE had received a report from Deuce Benjamin in February 2022.”
Furthermore, concerns were raised regarding the university’s transparency over using booster funds to compensate Moccia as opposed to state funds under his revised contract. The report noted that while the utilization of AAC funds for his payment was made public in mid-2023, relying on media to inform donors of the potential spending of their contributions was deemed insufficient.
