New Mexico State has made the decision to part ways with Mario Moccia, the university’s athletic director, following an investigation that scrutinized the institution’s handling of a sexual-abuse scandal that led to the temporary suspension of the men’s basketball program. Valerio Ferme, who assumed the role of university president at the beginning of the year, announced Moccia’s dismissal on Thursday. Ferme also disclosed that Amber Burdge, NMSU’s deputy athletic director for strategic initiatives and leadership, has been appointed as the acting athletic director.
In light of a recent report released by the New Mexico Department of Justice, Ferme expressed the need for a fresh start within the athletics program. “After carefully reviewing the recent report issued by the New Mexico Department of Justice, I felt we needed a fresh start in our athletics program,” Ferme stated. “I have utter confidence in Dr. Burdge’s ability to lead our Athletic Department, and look forward to working with her in the coming months.”
Ferme highlighted Burdge’s significant contribution to NMSU’s strategic response to hazing prevention as the school’s senior female administrator and deputy Title IX coordinator. The fallout from the sexual assault cases has been ongoing, with two former basketball players reaching plea deals in the assault cases against them, while a third player is set for trial next month.
The assault allegations resulted in the shutdown of New Mexico State’s 2022-23 basketball season. Subsequently, in 2023, the institution reached an $8 million settlement in a lawsuit brought by two victims – former players Deuce Benjamin and Shak Odunewu. The victims came forward with accounts of their abuse.
However, despite these circumstances, Mario Moccia was granted a five-year contract extension in 2023, accompanied by a raise of $72,000, bringing his annual salary to $351,000 in the first year of the new agreement, which was scheduled to conclude in 2028. The contract extension was signed by chancellor Dan Arvizu on the same day he resigned from his position – a timing that the school claimed was coincidental.
An examination by the state Department of Justice into the sexual assault cases uncovered a broader toxic culture within the program. The report indicated that the assaults were not isolated incidents but symptomatic of a pervasive toxic environment throughout the program. It pointed out that there were numerous opportunities for individuals associated with the team to identify this toxic culture as it evolved, yet they failed to effectively intervene and prevent it. The report also criticized the institution for inadequate institutional preventative measures.
The report specifically critiqued Mario Moccia for his response to the assaults, noting that he did not take sufficient action upon learning about the incidents. Moccia’s reliance on the belief that once the staff reported the cases to the school’s Office of Institutional Equity, the responsibility was fulfilled was also challenged by the report. It highlighted that Moccia had met with and reviewed pertinent videos involving the accused
