The Program in Shambles

With a failure to enforce or live up to basic standards and accountability, the clock can quickly expire on what we've worked for our entire lives.

February 15, 2023

They were a March underdog — a scrappy team from a small conference that used smarts and toughness to defeat its big-name opponent.

But less than 12 months after New Mexico State’s upset of UConn in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, the Aggies’ men’s basketball program is in a state of catastrophe — shut down by the university’s chancellor over the weekend, its first-year coach fired on Tuesday after a series of troubling allegations within the program. 

Three players are currently being investigated for their roles in multiple hazing attacks against a teammate that have led to allegations of false imprisonment, harassment and criminal sexual contact, according to CBS and KTSM.com.  

It’s not the first serious team incident this season.

In November, an Aggies player fatally shot another man in what police so far have said appeared to be an act of self-defense, but in the days after, it was revealed that "coaches and staffers were found to be in possession of multiple pieces of potential evidence in the shooting, including the gun," according to ESPN. 

The school and local district attorney’s office are continuing to investigate.

There’s an important lesson in the saga for any leader.

New Mexico State was coached by Greg Heiar, a 47-year-old, first-year Division I head coach who, like many, grinded for years along the Division III, junior college and mid-major path to finally earn a chance on the biggest stage in the sport.

But in a matter of mere months, Heiar has lost his opportunity, has his reputation in tatters, and the program allegations are likely to stick with both him and the university for years to come.

"We must uphold the safety of our students and the integrity of our university," Chancellor Dan Arvizu said in a statement. "It's time for this program to reset."

When we take on a top leadership position, we're responsible for everything that occurs within our organization. 

Heiar's termination is a reminder of this and of the fact that we can have intricate ideas, out-sweat our competition, work hard to earn a chance that few others get.

But with a failure to enforce or live up to even basic standards and accountability, the clock can quickly expire on what we've worked toward our entire lives. 

Being a manager is hard. Being a great manager is even harder. 

Enter Leader’s Lens, a weekly newsletter written by veteran leadership coach, Jacob Espinoza. For years, he’s worked alongside Fortune 500 CEOs across the country. Now he’s writing a newsletter with action items, leadership deep dives, and a curated list of resources.