Portales, N.M. – Dr. Paul Weir has announced he is stepping down as the Eastern New Mexico University Director of Athletics, effective December 1, 2023, to assume a leadership position at Abilene Christian University Athletics in Abilene, Texas.

"Thank you Greyhounds! I am so grateful to everyone in our community who has supported my family and me for the past three years. Moving to this part of the state was a blessing I will cherish forever," said Director of Athletics Dr. Paul Weir. "Dr. Caldwell and Dustin Seifert, thank you, and thank you again for believing in me enough to bring me here. Good luck to our fantastic athletes, coaches, and staff, who have done and will continue to do amazing things for ENMU. To Dr Johnston and this wonderful place, I will continue to cheer for the absolute best future imaginable. God Bless and Go Greyhounds."

Under Weir's watch, Greyhound student-athletes have achieved tremendous success in the classroom. They have had a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in almost every semester over the past two years. Ten programs earned a 3.0 grade point average or higher during the spring 2023 semester. The football program won the sport Academic Championship for having the highest GPA for a football program in the Lone Star Conference every year during his Weir's time at ENMU. Student-athletes also performed over 3000 hours of community service during the 22-23 academic year and are on pace to exceed that in 2023-24.

Weir also led improvements not only in the classroom but on the field. Weir brought back men's soccer to campus after a hiatus for the program, helping to restart the only NCAA men's soccer program in the state of New Mexico. The baseball, softball, and men's basketball teams all showed significant improvements over the past season, and all made the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the first time in many years.   

Facility improvements were a big part of Weir's accomplishments. He led the softball field renovations with new turf, bullpens, and outfield fencing. Greyhound Arena is set to install its first ever videoboard during 2023-24, along with sideline videoboards for an enhanced experience. The weight room was renovated with new equipment and a first-ever nutrition space for ENMU student-athletes. A new athletic training room was built at the football fieldhouse, and a recovery room was added for all student-athletes. Funding was also secured for a significant investment in the soccer programs.

Fundraising improvements were seen during Weir's time, as he helped develop athletics' first-ever endowments. Weir helped to create the Greyhound Club Scholarship Endowment for all student-athletes at ENMU, the Bill Joy Endowment for the support of the athletic training department, and a new rodeo and track and field endowment for the benefit of their programs.

"We certainly appreciate Dr. Weir's leadership and wish him the best in this next career step," said James Johnston, ENMU Chancellor.  "He has advanced our athletics department and leaves Eastern New Mexico University Athletics Programs poised to do great things in the future."

A national search for the next athletic director will start in the near future.