IVAN HILTON LATEST UPDATES

LAS VEGAS, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University University President Dr. Neil Woolf has named Shanna Halalilo NMHU’s Athletic Director. As a result, NMHU will no longer have co-athletic directors overseeing its Athletic Department as it has for the past two years.

The job had been shared with co-athletic director Jim Deisler, who will now move to a senior associate athletic director role overseeing compliance. Deisler and Halalilo served as co-athletic directors from 2023 until the end of the Fall 2024 semester.

This year marks Halalilo’s eighth year at New Mexico Highlands. Under her leadership, the Athletic Department revamped the Annual Giving Fund, corporate sponsorships, and ticket sales. Additionally, Halalilo oversaw facility upgrades to the Wilson Complex, including a new volleyball and basketball court.

“I’m thrilled that Shanna Halalilo will serve as the Athletic Director at New Mexico Highlands University,” Dr. Woolf said. “Shanna has been providing exceptional leadership these past couple of years as our Co-Director of Athletics. Her experience as a former collegiate athlete, dynamic leadership skills, and commitment to student success make her the ideal leader to take our athletic department into an exciting new era.”

As Associate Athletic Director, Halalilo was instrumental in securing funding from the New Mexico Legislature that created NMHU’s Student-Athlete Success Center. Additionally, she served as Student-Athlete Success Coordinator and Senior Women’s Administrator at NMHU from 2018-2022.

Shanna Halalio profile imageHalalilo came to NMHU after spending two seasons as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Colorado Mesa University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Colorado Mesa.

President Woolf also wanted to thank Jim Diesler for unwavering support of NMHU athletics.

“I’m also grateful to Jim Deisler for his service as Co-Director,” Woolf said. Jim has been a stalwart presence at NMHU Athletics for 15 years and has volunteered to support our NCAA compliance efforts moving forward.”