Is New Mexico Close To Finding Its Next 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.

Over his four-season tenure, Gonzales, a former player at New Mexico, progressed from a variety of roles which included stops at San Diego State and Arizona State as defensive coordinators. Then he finally assume the position of head coach at his alma mater in 2020.

Despite achieving his best record this season at 4-8, the university opted for a change.

The Lobos, at the end of the year, really started to begin showing signs of a competitive, balanced football team. They even pulled 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 44-21. 

Many fans thought this would be good enough to earn his fifth year on his contract before athletics director 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…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mexico-close-finding-next-football-043502644.html

Author : Mountain West Wire

Publish date : 2023-12-01 04:35:02

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