Locksley returns to Lobo football team after suspension

The University of New Mexico's head footbal coach is headed back to the practice field after a 10-day suspension.

Coach Mike Locksley, who was also fined $29,000 for an altercation with wide receiver's coach Jonathon "JB" Gerald after a game with the Air Force Falcons on September 20th, spent part of his time off working with the NM Boys and Girls Club.

Locksley told the ABQ Journal's Greg Archuleta he's "excited to be back."

During a news conference on Sunday, Locksley said he missed being on the sidelines during UNM's Homecoming game against UNLV on Saturday Night. The struggling team lost 34-17.

"It was difficult--obviously not being able to be there and be a part of the process of trying to help us win. It was tough," Locksley said.

The coach, who did not appeal his punishment, said he's putting the altercation and subsequent media storm, behind him.

"I have my work cut out for me trying to regain the confidence of the Lobo family, which I'm looking forward to doing. Obviously I've been given a second chance, a second opportunity," Locksley said.

The 0-7 Lobos will travel to California this weekend. They face San Diego State on Saturday.

You can hear the game on the home for Lobo Sports - 770KKOB.

ESPN reports Coach Locksley will be suspended

The head football coach at the University of New Mexico appears headed home for at least one game. ESPN is reporting that Micheal Locksley will be suspended for the Lobo game vs UNLV on October 24th

The action follows a human resource division investigation into a September 20th altercation between Locksley and wide receivers coach Jonathan JP Gerald. Gerald accused Locksley of battery and told Albuquerque Police Officers that he was punched in the face.

Lobos assistant head coach/defensive backs coach George Barlow will serve as the team's interim coach during Locksley's absence.

Gerald has left the team, but will be paid through February.

We'll get the final word around 3pm at a news conference.

If Locksley is suspended it won't have anything to do with legal claims made to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by a former football administrative assistant. On Monday, the school had announced that Locksley has resolved "all legal claims" in that issue, although details were scarce in a statement issued by the university.

After the fight, athletic director Paul Krebs issued verbal and written reprimands to Locksley. A day later, university administrators decided to investigate whether Locksley's actions violated policies against campus violence.

Sen. Keller invesitgates UNM's brain drain

After reviewing the census demographic research presented to the Legislative Economic and Rural Development Committee on New Mexico’s “Brain Drain” Problem, Senator Keller has announced plans to craft legislation to help address deep structural challenges in New Mexico’s labor force.

“We can’t expect to build a rich diverse growing economy when 60% of our work force leaves the state. This is big reason why, we continue to, and may remain near the bottom of the nation when it comes to GDP and productivity. We invest in citizens’ education, we provide lottery scholarships for our Universities and our investments are walking right out of the state," said Keller.

"Like most New Mexican’s I thought most native born folks come back at some point, but this study shows that is a myth, its only 2%," said Keller. "I’m concerned about how our state competes regionally when 8 out 10 people who are born here moving to states nearby for higher paying jobs."

The UNM study conducted by Dr. Dely Alcantara found, among other things, that 60% of born New Mexican’s leave our state after schooling and only 2% return. 8 out 10 of the individuals who leave go to neighboring states. It also found the “Brain Drain” effect; those who have a higher degree are 4x more likely to leave than the average person born in New Mexico.

"The “brain drain” means there is a finite amount of good jobs that will come to our state because there simply isn’t enough talent. For economic development to stick we have to create ‘clusters’ where generations of New Mexicans are matched with good jobs in a particular industry. We’ve got craft our economic development policy to keep our top talent and bring those who’ve left home,” Senator Keller explained at the committee meeting.

He outlined several proposals that could be used to help support talent retention in our state:

• Track the long term demand for particular jobs in our state (for example the number of engineers we need over the next 10 years) and supply of labor we are graduating at our universities (the number of engineer graduates) to better inform the business community and higher education curriculum.
• Bolster our 40+ state industry incentives to include preferences for ‘returnees’ (born New Mexicans who have left) and native born New Mexicans, specific increased percentages of New Mexicans in management and ‘career path’ positions.

“This will link our business development initiatives to help stop the Brain Drain and prevent us from becoming a ‘low cost’ labor provider for the rest of the country,” Senator Keller noted.

• Refocus our incentives programs toward supporting ‘economic clusters’ which include supply chain partners for key industries rather than only for specific industries.
• Reinstate a State Planning Office to provide a long term strategic planning arm for our state government that can coordinate services, education and economic development efforts against changes in our state’s workforce demographics
• Provide greater point preferences for New Mexico companies in government contracting to help create more jobs locally
• Stream line business registration and licensing to make it easier for entrepreneurs to start a business is our state
• Support access to the types of financing need to support local small business job creation like entrepreneur/venture capital, micro lending, job training funding, incubators and small business lending.

Last session, Senator Keller sponsored SB 175 to add “returnees” to the JTIP program which was adopted by the program this summer. He also sponsored SJM13 requiring the states bureau of economic research to track long term workforce supply and demand. Senator Keller shared he will be drafting legislation on these topics and will introduce them next session if the topics are in line with the Governor’s call, if not they will be rolled in the next 60 day.

UNM Head Football Coach Accused of Battery

Updated 5pm

An assistant football coach at the University of New Mexico filed a police report with APD last Sunday, September 20, 2009. In the the police report, Wide Receivers' Coach Jonathan "J.B." Gerald alleges head coach Michael Locksley punched him in the face after a "heated" coaches meeting around 7:15pm the same night.

Gerald had been on leave all last week and missed Saturday's game against New Mexico State University.

Just before 11:30 this morning, Vice President of UNM Athletics Paul Krebs called me to confirm "there was an altercation in the coaches staff meeting last Sunday evening after the Air Force game."

FROM THE APD REPORT -

Mr. Gerald said that earlier in the evening at about 1915 hours [7:15pm] he was attending a coaches meeting which he stated become "heated." Mr. Gerald said at one point in the meeting Coach Michael Locksley, who is the head coach for the team became angry with him and approached him in an aggressive manner. Mr. Gerald said that Coach Locksley grabbed him by the collar and as other coaches were attempting to intervene, Coach Locksley punched him in the mouth causing a small cut on the inside of his upper lip.

The reporting officer said he observed the injury and a scratch to Gerald's left forearm.

Mr. Gerald said he did not wish to file any criminal charges against Coach Locksley at this time however he did want the incident documented in a police report.

Updated: 5pm

At an afternoon news conference, Krebs says the school is addressing the "altercation" with both coaches and while Gerald has not returned to the team, Krebs said he would be welcomed back to the team with "open arms."

As of Monday, Geraldwas still on paid leave, and call to his home were not immediately returned to 770KKOB.

Locksley did not attend the news conference. Instead, he was back on the field preparing his team for this weekends game against Texas Tech.

Krebs said that the first-year coach, has apologized to his staff and team and accepted responsibility for his mistake.

In a prepared statement, released by the university's sports information office, Locksley wrote:

I apologized to Coach Gerald, the coaching staff and our team for my poor judgment. I would also like to apologize to Lobo fans. Like I remind our players, when mistakes are made, you acknowledge them and deal with the consequences.

Krebs told reporters, "In this business it is not uncommon for coaches to have heated discussions. Having said that, we cannot condone Coach Locksley's actions. You simply cannot put your hand on another coach."

Krebs said he considers the matter resolved, and blamed the partially blamed the incident on the stresses of coaching. He also said it was probably worsened by UNM's winless start.

Locksley has been given a verbal reprimand and followed it with a letter in his file. Locksley will receive no suspension.

Earlier this year, Locksley and UNM were sued by a former office assistant for sexual harrassment and wrongful termination. That suit is still pending.

Graduate Assistant Aaron Morehead is filling in for Gerald.