New Mexico United raised its standard in 2024.

United set club records in regular season wins (18, up from 13 twice previously) and points (59, up from 51 in 2022) to earn not only its first home playoff game in club history but top spot in the Western Conference standings.

If New Mexico wants to return to that position next season, however, it’s likely going to need to raise its level again.

That’s the biggest task facing newly appointed Head Coach Dennis Sanchez as he takes the reins from fellow 2024 USL Championship Coach of the Year finalist Eric Quill, now leading the way at FC Dallas as the coaching carousel whirred into action this offseason.

Historically, this past season in the Western Conference was an oddity.

Prior to New Mexico topping the standings, the most recent team to finish top of the West with fewer than 64 points was Sacramento Republic FC in 2016, when it narrowly claimed top spot with 52 points in 30 games.

Since then, teams have averaged 69.8 points in the regular season in claiming top spot in the West. Obviously, that includes two of the league’s historic campaigns – Phoenix Rising FC set the current single-season points record of 78 in 2019 before San Antonio FC came up one point shy in 2022 on the way to winning the Players’ Shield and Championship title.

But even outside those, there have been sides like Orange County SC’s 2018 squad (66pts), and Phoenix’s 2021 squad (66pts) that show the typical standard that’s required to earn a No. 1 seed.

That’s the level Sanchez’s side will likely need to achieve to maintain its position as a first-place contender.

New Mexico achieved all it did in 2024 despite being profligate in front of goal – it underperformed its Expected Goals mark by 4.06xG, scoring 46 times on 50.06 Expected Goals, which was fourth highest in the league during the regular season. Greater consistency in finishing by Bruce, Hurst or a new face up front would be a very welcome sight.

There’s also the fact that Sanchez’s possession-heavy system, while different than the one Quill had implemented as laid out expertly here by John Morrissey, should offer continuity for the squad.

Sanchez is also bringing his ability to get the most out of a squad with him from Las Vegas Lights FC, where he also achieved club records in wins and points in one of the Championship’s all-time turnaround jobs.

At the same time, United is going to be a team with a target on its back throughout the new season. Between the shifting coaching landscape in the West, including the return of Neill Collins with Sacramento Republic FC and the arrival of Pa-Modou Kah at Phoenix Rising FC, the likely uptick in consistency we should expect from defending champions Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, and potential reemergence of former powers San Antonio and Orange County, the top of the West figures to be highly competitive in the new season.

As such, Sanchez has his work cut out to keep New Mexico ahead of the pack.