New Mexico had hoped bringing in alumnus Danny Gonzales, who also coached the Lobos early on in his coaching career, would turn the fortunes of the program when he was hired in 2020.
However, after no bowl trips and four straight losing seasons, they decided to make a change. Gonzales was 11-32 overall leading the Lobos.
The job with the Lobos was the right fit to bring former BYU and Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall out of retirement.
Bronco brings 135-81 record and resume of a proven program builder to the desert.
The majority of his staff are guys he's worked with previously. Here's a look at who he's bringing in.
OFFENSE
- Jason Beck - OC / QBs
(Syracuse OC) - Kirk Garner - RBs
(East Tennessee State RBs) - Micah Simon - WRs
(Northern Colorado WRs) - Famika Anae - OL
(Campbell OL) - Matt Johns - TEs
(William & Mary QBs / Pass Game Coordinator)
DEFENSE
- Nick Howell - DC
(Vanderbilt DC) - Shane Hunter - Linebackers / Special Teams
(BYU Graduate Assistant) - Charles Mack - Defensive Backs
(VMI Safeties / Director of Player Personnel) - Donte Wilkins - Defensive Line
(Lafayette DL) - Jan Jorgensen - Edge
(BYU Defensive Analyst)
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Shane Hunter - Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers
(BYU Graduate Assistant)
SUPPORT STAFF
Nate Pototschnik - Strength Coach
Joe Spaziani - Director of Operations
Pat Hickman - Chief of Staff / Director of Player Personnel
Evan Butts - Director of Scouting
2023 Staff
Head Coach: Danny Gonzales
11-32 overall (5-26 in Mountain West play)
OFFENSE
- OC / QBs - Bryant Vincent
- OL - Cam Blankenship
- RBs - Heath Ridenour
- TEs - Joe Scelfo
- WRs - Cornelius Williams
DEFENSE
- DC / CBs - Troy Reffett
- DL - Jerome Haywood
- Safeties - David Howes
- LBs - Jake Rothschiller
SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR
- STC - Jamie Christian
SUPPORT STAFF
Derrick Baker - Director of Athletic Performance
David Fox - Director of Operations
Bob Waller - Associate AD / Health and Performance
Brady Vincent - Offensive Analyst
Dante Caro - Defensive Analyst
Byron Bell - Offensive GA
Jacque May - Director of Equipment Operations
Brandt Hughes - Offensive GA
DeAndre Wright - Defensive GA
Joey Noble - Defensive GA
Tim Gray - Assistant Director of Athletic Performance
Conner Cain - Assistant Director of Athletic Performance
David Flores - Athletic Performance GA
Jalen Harvey - Director of Player Development