Greg Heiar, the former men's basketball head coach at New Mexico State University (NMSU), announced in an ESPN Radio 101.7 "THE TEAM" interview that he has reached a settlement regarding his 2023 dismissal. This development concludes a case associated with hazing allegations and a campus shooting incident.
"Pleased that this matter is now fully and finally resolved to our satisfaction," said Heiar, Coach for Trinity Valley Cardinals (2024-2025). "He is excited to continue his coaching career. Coach Heiar wishes NMSU, the men's basketball program and the Aggie fans all the best moving forward."
The settlement, finalized on August 15, resolves a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Heiar following his February 2023 dismissal. According to ESPN's coverage, Heiar was removed from his position after scandals involving a fatal shooting by one of his players and extensive hazing allegations within the program. The university subsequently canceled the remainder of the 2022–23 basketball season and agreed to an $8 million settlement related to hazing with former players.
ABC 7 reports that while the financial terms of Heiar's settlement were not disclosed, it was reached outside of court and included non-disclosure elements. NMSU declined to comment on the matter, but Heiar's attorneys confirmed the resolution in a brief statement. Such confidentiality clauses are common in public university settlements.
Following his dismissal from NMSU, Heiar led Mineral Area College to a successful 29–3 season in 2023–24. Subsequently, he joined Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, where he achieved a 34–3 record and secured the 2025 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I national championship against Connors State. This accomplishment marked a significant turnaround in his career and earned him NJCAA Coach of the Year honors, according to Yahoo Sports.
Editor's note: This article includes excerpts from an interview conducted on "TEAM Talk" with Joe O'Neill, Adam Diehl, and Andres Chavez. "TEAM Talk" airs Monday through Friday between 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on ESPN Radio 101.7 TheTEAM.
