Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs released a statement Thursday afternoon thanking Vela and her staff for their efforts, but said it was time to take the team in a new direction.
“At this time, we have decided to not renew the contract for Kit Vela,” Krebs said in the release. “We will conduct a national search, and with our facilities, our community and our commitment to developing a championship women’s soccer program, we are confident that we can hire a coach to bring our program to that next level.”
Vela led the program to two NCAA College Cup bids in 2010 and 2011 along with a Mountain West Tournament championship in 2011. She is 122-104-45 in her 14 years as head coach for New Mexico.
In what ended up being Vela’s last season, the Lobos had 10-6-2 record in the 2014. The team advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament before falling to No. 2 Wyoming.
However, UNM’s season was overshadowed by an abysmal hazing incident that received national attention.
The Aug. 17 circus of events forced 22 players to serve a one-game suspension and Vela received a one week suspension without pay. Vela was making $75,000 as head coach.
Jorge Vela and Krista Foo took over the day-to-day actions during Vela’s suspension and were also given letters of reprimand.
The suspensions of the players were given throughout the season so the squad could field a full team. The Lobos’ home opener against Texas Tech was cancelled in lieu of the events that transpired that night before school was in session.
Initially, Krebs said the seniors on the squad were peer pressuring seven freshmen to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and later sprayed the freshmen down with “soap and water.” Later on that night, the freshmen were forced from their street clothes down to their undergarments, Krebs said.
That night, two freshmen were hospitalized after the entire team was involved in the scandal.
Directly following the events, UNM began devising a program to heighten awareness. The women’s soccer team was the first to take an alcohol education course in addition to an anti-hazing program that all New Mexico student-athletes will now be required to take.
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Vela took full responsibility for the team’s actions and said she accepted all of the punishments that ensued after the initial suspension.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the assistant sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
