Head coach Jason Hooten announced Forcier’s appointment as Director of Men’s Basketball Performance, bringing more than 25 years of experience in strength and conditioning, athlete development and basketball performance at the NBA and NCAA Division I levels.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Based on Reporting by Michael Navarrette
New Mexico State men’s basketball is making changes to its coaching and support staff ahead of the 2026–27 season, hiring veteran basketball performance specialist Todd Forcier while associate head coach Preston Laird receives national recognition for his work as an assistant coach.
Head coach Jason Hooten announced Forcier’s appointment as Director of Men’s Basketball Performance, bringing more than 25 years of experience in strength and conditioning, athlete development and basketball performance at the NBA and NCAA Division I levels.
Forcier most recently served as Director of Basketball Performance at the University of Memphis, where he oversaw strength training, nutrition, recovery and sports science for the men’s basketball program.
Before joining Memphis, Forcier spent more than a decade with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, including serving as head strength and conditioning coach during the 2022–23 season. His responsibilities included player development, injury prevention and return-to-play programs in coordination with sports medicine and performance analytics personnel.
His career also includes positions with Kentucky, Syracuse, Dayton, UNLV and the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics. He was part of the Syracuse staff when the Orange won the 2003 NCAA National Championship.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Todd Forcier and his family to our Aggie Family,” Hooten said. “Todd’s resume speaks for itself, and I know our players and program will benefit tremendously from his experience, knowledge, and leadership as our strength coach.”
Forcier, a Washington State University graduate, will oversee strength and conditioning, performance training and athlete development for the Aggies.
“I’m honored and excited to join the New Mexico State basketball program,” Forcier said. “I’m excited to get to work! Go Aggies!”
Laird Recognized Among Mid-Major Assistants
Meanwhile, NM State associate head coach Preston Laird has been named to Silver Waves Media’s seventh annual 100 Most Impactful: Men’s Mid Major Assistants/GM’s list.
Laird was the only Conference USA assistant included in Monday’s announcement, marking his third recognition by the organization after previous selections in 2021 and 2022.
The recognition follows Laird’s promotion to associate head coach, a position he will hold for the first time during the upcoming season.
Laird began his coaching career at NM State under former head coach Marvin Menzies, serving as director of basketball operations and assisting with player development and academics.
During that initial tenure, the Aggies made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2013 through 2015, compiling a 97–43 overall record and a 52–10 conference record.
A former Memphis basketball player who progressed from walk-on to scholarship athlete and team captain, Laird subsequently followed Menzies to UNLV, where he advanced from director of basketball operations to assistant coach.
He later joined Little Rock, helping the Trojans win 21 games and capture the Sun Belt regular-season championship during his first season on staff, despite being picked 11th in the conference’s preseason poll.
Laird returned to Las Cruces ahead of the 2024–25 season and has served as one of Hooten’s principal assistants since then.
Together, Forcier’s appointment and Laird’s promotion represent developments in NM State’s basketball staff as the Aggies prepare for the 2026–27 campaign.
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