University of New Mexico-Main Campus Football

Link joined the Lobo Family in January of 2026, coming to UNM from Missouri, where he spent six seasons as Special Teams Coordinator, while also holding a dual role of Tight Ends Coach for two of those seasons. Previous Coaching Stops Missouri (2020-25): Link served as Special Teams Coordinator for his six-year stint in Columbia, where he oversaw a unit that recorded at least one blocked kick or punt in five of his six seasons. Overall, Link coached nine players to postseason honors, including 2021 All-America kicker Harrison Mevis, who plays in the NFL. Mevis, dubbed the “Thicker Kicker”, was twice named All-SEC under Link’s tutelage, and he was twice a Lou Groza Semifinalist. Mevis set Missouri records for career field goals with 86, career field goal percentage at .869, points with 405, and career 50+ yard field goals with 13. At Missouri, Link’s kickoff coverage unit ranked in the top-10 of the FBS three consecutive seasons, including leading the nation in 2022, allowing just 13.64 return yards per game. Appalachian State (2019): Spent one season with the Mountaineers as Special Teams Coordinator. Appalachian State led the FBS in blocked kicks with seven, blocking five placements and two punts. Three special teams units ranked in the top-30 of the FBS, with punt return coverage ranking 15th, kickoff returns ranking 16th, and kickoff return coverage ranking 28th. Louisiana Tech (2018): Link spent the 2018 season as the special teams coordinator at Louisiana Tech University

Hebron “Loni” Fangupo joined the Lobo Family in December of 2024, and he serves as the defensive line coach. He came to UNM after extensive playing experience spanning four years in the NFL. He also has experience with Coach Eck from a season at Idaho. In 2025, the Lobo defensive line was at times unstoppable and perhaps one of the most improved units in the country. UNM recorded 36 sacks, the most since the 2005 season, and UNM led the Mountain West in sacks one season after finishing last with just 11. UNM was second in the Mountain West in TFLs with 77, again after finishing last in that category in 2024. Three defensive linemen earned All-Mountain West honors. Keyshawn James-Newby became UNM's first conference sack leader in 20 years, and he was a Third Team All-American by PFSN and First Team All-Mountain West. Brett Karhu went from 58 snaps at Memphis in 2024 to 537, and Honorable Mention honors, and Brian Booker also earned Honorable Mention honors. PREVIOUS COACHING STOPS IDAHO (2024): Fangupo served as the defensive line coach for one season at Idaho with Jason Eck, and he made his mark. He coached All-American Keyshawn James-Newby and three All-Big Sky players in James-Newby, Dallas Afalava, and Malakai Williams. The defensive line was one of the most dominant in the FCS, totaling 35 sacks on the season, led by James-Newby. He led the Big Sky Conference with 10.5 sacks, and he was at his best in big games, picking up 2.5 sacks against Oregon and 3.0 sacks against Wy

Luke Nardo joined the Lobo Family in January 2025 and serves as Outside Linebackers and Nickels Coach, moving there in January 2026. He came to UNM originally as a defensive analyst, where he coached the Star Position for the Lobos. Before UNM, Nardo spent two seasons at West Virginia University. In his first year, his work in pre-scouting helped UNM to the nation's most-improved rushing defense and the nation's No. 2 total and scoring defenses. At WVU, he was the Assistant Linebackers Coach. During his time in Morgantown, they appeared in a pair of bowl games, including a win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Before his time in Morgantown, Nardo served as a graduate assistant at Ohio University, where he worked with the safeties under current UNM Defensive Coordinator Spence Nowinsky. During the 2022 season, the Bobcats won 10 games and were selected to participate in the Barstool Arizona Bowl. Nardo began his career as a graduate assistant at the University of Nebraska at Kearney after serving as a student coach at Ohio University. A native of Shadyside, Ohio, Nardo graduated from Shadyside High School and then attended Ohio University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in AYA Social Studies. Both Luke’s brothers, Matt and Bryan, coach in college football, and their father, Perry, also coached football at the high school level. Luke’s wife, Mikayla, will be joining him in Albuquerque.

Luke Schleusner joined the Lobo Football program in December 2024 and serves as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for UNM. He comes to New Mexico after a three-year stint with Idaho. Over his long coaching career, Schleusner has developed a reputation for his innovative offensive schemes and adaptability. In 2025, with the Lobos, Schleusner featured an innovative offense that set a season record for completion percentage and ranked in the top 10 all-time for points scored in a season. Jack Layne was the catalyst, finishing with a 65.1 completion percentage to set the school's individual single-season record. His 136.0 efficiency mark was good for sixth in a single season, and he sits second on the career list at UNM. The Lobos, despite injuries late in the season, UNM still totaled 39 offensive touchdowns and 4,639 total yards as UNM's offense had one First Team, one Second Team, and an Honorable Mention selection. PREVIOUS COACHING STOPS IDAHO (2022-24): Schleusner spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Idaho, running an offense that made the FCS playoffs in all three seasons. In 2024, the Vandals, despite losing their starting quarterback in the season opener, ranked 19th nationally in the FCS in passing efficiency at 149.6 and 21st in total first downs with 263, showcasing a ball-control offense that wore down their opponents. Jordan Dwyer earned FCS All-America honors after a season with 78 catches and 1