Is New Mexico Close To Finding Its New Football Coach?
Who are the Lobos targeting?
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Finding the replacement for the Lobos
New Mexico is searching for a new head coach after parting ways with Danny Gonzales last Saturday.
Over his four-season tenure, Gonzales, a former player at New Mexico, progressed from various roles, including stops at San Diego State and Arizona State as defensive coordinators. Then, he finally assumed the head coach position at his alma mater in 2020.
The Lobos, at the end of the year, really started to begin showing signs of a competitive, balanced football team, even pulling the upset on the road against MWC Fresno State 25-17, despite being a 23-point underdog and then losing in overtime to Utah State 44-41.
Many fans thought this would be good enough to earn his fifth year on his contract before AD Eddie Nunez decided that it was time to get a new head coach.
Since 2016, the Lobos have been without a winning season, and until this year, they had not secured more than three victories in any single season.
Despite Gonzales prioritizing in-state recruiting over junior college recruitment compared to his predecessor, the bulk of the roster continues to be sourced from outside the state due to limited local resources.
In a recent radio interview, Gonzales acknowledged that he likely waited a year too long to utilize the transfer portal to address the needs of the Lobos team.
One does not have to look too far to understand the immediate impact that Coaches like Barry Odom (MWC Coach of the Year) and instate rival Jerry Kill at NMSU had on Nunez’s decision to go in a different direction.
Athletic director Eddie Nunez acknowledged Gonzales’s contributions to stabilizing the football program and fostering a positive culture.
However, the on-field results fell short of expectations. Nunez expressed gratitude for Gonzales’s impact on student-athletes, declaring him a “Lobo for Life.”
As the university looks to fill the coaching vacancy, key factors come into play. Despite his familiarity with UNM, Gonzales had to learn the head coaching role on the job.
Sources suggest the university may prioritize candidates with previous head coaching experience, pointing to successful turnarounds at other regional and conference programs.
The job in New Mexico is undeniably challenging. The Lobos have struggled, with no winning seasons since 2016 and minimal success in recent years.
The university boasts an indoor practice facility, and the recently inaugurated New Mexico Mutual Champions Training Center, located in the end zone of the University Stadium, spans 11,000 square feet.
This state-of-the-art facility features a new weight room and cardio mezzanine, marking the first addition to athletics infrastructure since 2015, so improvements are being made by the athletic department.
Regarding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives, the school has aligned with the 505 Sports Venture Foundation as its preferred collective.
Reportedly, the collective disbursed $525,000 to athletes through June, according to On3 which Danny Gonzales was one to be very proactive knowing UNM Success depending on this to work out, to be able to compete in FBS.
Despite efforts to emphasize in-state recruiting, most of the roster is sourced from outside the state.
The candidate pool may be competitive with several Mountain West schools concurrently seeking new head coaches, including Boise State and San Diego State. Potential names in the mix include Gary Patterson, Bryan Harsin, Bronco Mendenhall, Matt Wells, Ken Niumatalolo, Jason Eck, Brent Vigen, and Brennan Marion.
Each brings a unique set of experiences and qualifications, raising questions about the resources and fit that New Mexico can offer to attract the right candidate.
Some of the candidates’ credentials are:
Bryan Harsin, the former Auburn coach, is anticipated to be a contender for various Mountain West coaching positions. Harsin achieved a notable record of 69-19 as the head coach of Boise State from 2014 to ’20. While securing a Fiesta Bowl victory in his inaugural season, he did not quite replicate that success afterward. Nevertheless, he did amass a commendable 45-8 record in Mountain West play, claiming three conference championships.
Bronco Mendenhall, the former head coach of Virginia and BYU, was considered for the Colorado position last year and has been linked to several other coaching opportunities in the current cycle. With a coaching record of 135-81 from 2005 to ’21, Mendenhall consistently achieved success, boasting 11 seasons with at least eight wins. As a Utah native, he previously served as New Mexico’s defensive coordinator from 1998 to ’02, contributing to the development of Urlacher into a first-round pick. Mendenhall possesses substantial familiarity with the region and the Mountain West.
Bryant Vincent He may not fulfill all the criteria on Nuñez’s wish list. However, during his tenure as Gonzales’ offensive coordinator, Vincent achieved remarkable improvements with an offensive unit that had struggled significantly in the two years preceding his arrival. Serving as the interim head coach at Alabama-Birmingham in 2022, he led the Blazers to a bowl game victory before joining the UNM staff. Notably, Vincent played a crucial role in developing RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt into one of the most prolific ball carriers in school history. He is also the only Lobo coach with one year left on his contract and is extremely popular with the current Lobo football team and brings all the current offensive staff back as a plus.
Matt Wells enjoyed a prosperous stint as the head coach of Utah State, amassing a commendable 44-34 record from 2013 to 2018, with three seasons of at least nine victories. He played a key role in developing Jordan Love into an NFL-caliber quarterback. Despite holding a promising 5-3 record in his third season at Texas Tech, Wells was let go. Furthermore, Wells is familiar with UNM, having served as the Lobos’ wide receivers coach in 2007-08 and 2010.
