Michael Peters
Tulsa World TU Sports Reporter
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University of Tulsa deputy athletic director Joe Fields, a behind-the-scenes figure in the current football rebuilding job, is headed to New Mexico State to become the school’s athletic director.
ESPN was first to report the news Monday afternoon and NMSU made it official Monday evening. Fields was hired by TU athletic director Justin Moore in Aug. 2024 to serve as deputy AD and chief operating officer.
Fields, a native of Houston, had worked with Moore at Texas A&M.
“He deserves a lot of credit for getting this football program back competitive,” TU football coach Tre Lamb said Monday of Fields. “If there is one thing Justin Moore can do, I think he can identify talent.
“To have a guy plucked to be an AD at an FBS school is a pretty big deal.”
Fields, who played football at Syracuse, served as TU’s football administrator. He helped develop and implement the Hurricane’s revenue sharing plans.
“Justin wants to make sure his people get better. And Joe was awesome,” Lamb said. “He handled all of our NIL and revenue sharing. He’s the reason we’re competitive right now.
“I wish him nothing but the best.”
Fields’ first official day at New Mexico State is Oct. 8. He replaces Mario Moccia, who was fired in Jan. 2025 following an investigation into the handling of a sexual abuse scandal within the men’s basketball program.
Fields was part of TU’s travel party to Las Cruces, N.M., earlier this season when the Hurricane fell to the Aggies 21-14.
“Joe Fields is first and foremost devoted to the overall excellence of our student-athletes,” NMSU president Valerio Ferme said in a statement. “He brings integrity and humility to the role, and his qualifications as a former athlete, leader of athletes and competitor will help shape and lead our Athletics programs into their next chapter.
“In my conversations with him, he has stressed the need to support our athletes holistically. I know that his focus will be the overall success of our student-athletes, so they are achieving in the classroom as much if not more than they are in the athletics arena.”
Tulsa Schedule
Aug. 30: TU 35, Abilene Christian 7
Sept. 6: New Mexico State 21, TU 14
Sept. 13: Navy 42, TU 23
Sept. 19: TU 19, Oklahoma State 12
Sept. 27: Tulane 31, TU 14
Oct. 4: at Memphis, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Oct. 16: at ECU, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 25: Temple, TBA
Nov. 8: at Florida Atlantic, TBA
Nov. 15: Oregon State, TBA
Nov. 22: at Army, 11 a.m., CBSSN
Nov. 29: UAB, TBA
sports@tulsaworld.com
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Michael Peters
Tulsa World TU Sports Reporter
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