Coaching Candidate is a mini-series exploring potential head coaches at the FCS and FBS levels. Read more about the contracts and backgrounds of Brent Vigen and Tim Polasek.
Jason Eck will be a name to watch in this offseason’s coaching carousel. He arrived in Albuquerque as the first major hire of Fernando Lovo at New Mexico, shortly after Lovo, a first-time athletic director, was tasked with finding a new head coach within two weeks of Bronco Mendenhall’s departure for Utah State.
Eck drew serious interest from multiple schools, even sparking whispers of an exit from UNM just weeks after his arrival for a potential opening at Washington State. His contract is strong, and while the school does not publicly separate base pay from media income, the key date to watch is Dec. 31, when his buyout drops by roughly $2 million in the first year.
With the Lobos sitting at 4-3 and playing with life, Eck continues to prove that his high-energy, program-building approach works and that college football can still be fun.
Jason Eck Contract & Buyout
Term:
- 5 years (December 14, 2024 – December 31, 2029)
Annual Guaranteed Compensation (Base + Media + Program Pay):
- Year 1 (2025): $1,150,000
- Year 2 (2026): $1,200,000
- Year 3 (2027): $1,250,000
- Year 4 (2028): $1,300,000
- Year 5 (2029): $1,350,000
Ticket Sales Incentive:
If ticket revenue increases (excluding the UNM/NMSU rivalry game effect):
- 15% increase: $15,000 total ($7,500 to Eck, $7,500 to football program)
- 25% increase: $25,000 total ($12,500 each)
- 50% increase: $50,000 total ($25,000 each)
University Buyout (Termination Without Cause):
- Year 1–2: 100% of remaining pay
- Year 3: 75% of remaining pay
- Year 4: 60% of remaining pay
- Year 5: 50% of remaining pay
- Paid in equal monthly installments (up to 36 months)
- Subject to mitigation if Eck gains other football-related employment
Coach Buyout (If Eck Leaves Early):
- Year 1: $4,000,000
- Year 2: $2,000,000
- Year 3: $750,000
- Year 4: $500,000
- Year 5: $300,000
Other Key Details:
- New Mexico covered Eck’s buyout owed to Idaho, including tax liability (tax-neutral clause), which was roughly $525,000.
Jason Eck Bio
Jason Eck arrived in December 2024 with a reputation for turnarounds. In three seasons at Idaho, he took a program with only two winning years in the previous 22 and turned it into a national contender. The Vandals made the FCS Playoffs every season under his watch, climbed into the national rankings, and improved each year.
His 2024 squad went 10-4 and reached the FCS quarterfinals despite losing 80% of its offensive production and cycling through three quarterbacks. The year also included a 17-13 road win at Wyoming and a near-upset of No. 1 Oregon, where Idaho trailed by just three points in the fourth quarter. His tenure in Moscow produced multiple All-Americans and national award winners and re-established Idaho as a consistent Top-20 program.
Before Idaho, Eck spent six seasons at South Dakota State, the final three as offensive coordinator, helping guide the Jackrabbits to four FCS semifinal appearances and a trip to the 2021 national championship game. He earned AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2019, known for creative, balanced offenses that routinely finished among the nation’s best.
A Wisconsin graduate and former Rose Bowl champion, Eck’s coaching path runs through Montana State, Minnesota State Mankato, Western Illinois, Hampton, Ball State, Winona State, and even an earlier stop at Idaho. Everywhere he’s been, offensive efficiency and player development have followed.
More than anything, Eck has injected personality back into the program. His “Office” and “Gone in 60 Seconds” social-media videos, co-starring Lovo, are equal parts cheesy and brilliant. They’re a reminder that college football doesn’t have to take itself too seriously, and fans have responded to that. In a landscape full of corporate coaches, Eck is refreshingly authentic.
The big question now is whether Jason Eck will be another one-and-done in Albuquerque. New Mexico’s fan base is desperate for someone to commit to them the way Eck has, but opportunity has a way of knocking loud when a coach proves he can win and have fun doing it.
Even without a winning record, Eck has shown plenty to be in play for other jobs. He’s engaged fans, alumni, and season ticket holders, while giving the Lobos a visible spark on and off the field. His teams can move the ball, score points, and entertain—a combination that travels well.
But in this sport, you don’t win the press conference twice. If the season ends around .500, the shine could fade a bit, at least locally. Still, it’s clear he’s a name worth watching. Whether he becomes New Mexico’s long-term builder or the next hot ticket in the carousel, Jason Eck has already made the Lobos relevant again.
