Mike Price named interim head coach
MINER ILLUSTRATED
Mike Price is returning to the UTEP sidelines.
After Sean Kugler stepped down from UTEP football's head coaching position Sunday, UTEP named Mike Price -- the Miners' head coach from '04-12 -- interim head coach for the remainder of the '17 season.
“I’ve asked Mike if he could help us in this situation,” UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull said. “He has thankfully agreed. We’ve lost two coaches, and while we have two fine coordinators who are capable of doing the job, I just felt like it was important to bring in somebody with head coaching experience that is familiar with El Paso and our program.”
Price -- the 1997 National Coach of the Year at Washington St. and '04 finalist at UTEP -- compiled a 48-61 record with the Miners before retiring in '12 and is 177-183 for his career.
“I was surprised and flattered by Bob’s call and appreciate the opportunity to help this program one more time,” Price said. “I am not interviewing for the future job, and I’m not going to be the future head coach. I’m going to manage the program and provide leadership for the rest of the year.”
Price is only one of two coaches in UTEP history to lead the Miners to three bowl games (Mike Brumbelow). While the Miners were ranked in the top 25 during the '05 season under Price, UTEP made appearances in the 2004 Houston, 2005 GMAC, and 2010 New Mexico bowls.
