College Football Coach Hire Grades: New Mexico

New Mexico Lobos: Bronco Mendenhall

Why the job was open: Success for New Mexico football has been fleeting. It’s difficult to break through to even have one good season here, but even once that’s accomplished, it’s even more difficult to sustain it. New Mexico alum Danny Gonzales was a rising star in the coaching ranks when he took the job, his teams seemed so close to breaking through but just never did and he was let go.

Coach Profile: Bronco Mendenhall was a quick riser in the coaching ranks, he got his first DC job just 4 years after graduating college at Snow College, soon after he moved on to Northern Arizona and eventually Oregon State. Eventually his career took off with Rocky Long at New Mexico, where he helped Long set the stage for the most successful stretch in New Mexico program history with an aggressive defense utilizing the talents of a familiar name to many, Brian Urlacher. Mendenhall would move on to become the DC at BYU and after the 2004 season BYU’s HC resigned and the job was offered to Kyle Whittingham then Utah’s DC. Mendenhall prepared to move on, but to everyone’s surprise Whittingham did not accept the offer and instead replaced Urban Meyer at Utah, major Holy War beef here! Mendenhall was interviewed and got the BYU HC job. Once he was the head coach Mendenhall found near immediate success, the Cougars finished ranked his 2nd season, an overall 4 year stretch of finishing in the Top 25 (3 in the Top 15). Overall Mendenhall went 99-43 at BYU, this included a run as an independent where they played several tough opponents each year, despite that they never won less than 8 games as an independent under his watch. Mendenhall seeking a new challenge moved on to Virginia where he went 36-38, the record doesn’t stick out but it was one of Virginia’s best runs in recent decades, he got them to an Orange bowl in 2019 and also ended the Cavaliers long losing streak to Virginia Tech. Mendenhall stepped away in 2021.

Why he will succeed: There’s something familiar about this hire. Well known, experienced head coach taking over a program in New Mexico looking to get on the right path? Why yes, this is a very similar move to what their rival New Mexico State did when they hired Jerry Kill. Except this is even better, Mendenhall has been at New Mexico before and was part of the foundation for one of the most successful stretches in the history of the Lobos program. What’s even better is that Mendenhall has succeeded everywhere he’s been and isn’t afraid of a challenge.

What obstacles are in the way of success: This is possibly the toughest job in the Mountain West, there’s not much of a history of success and there’s been hires in the past that looked good on paper that didn’t work out. Recruiting is tough, there’s not much in state talent to work with. Mendenhall doesn’t have much experience in this NIL era so that will be something he will have to figure out.

Grade: A+ – This is one of my favorite hires of the cycle. I can’t imagine a way New Mexico could have done better. Mendenhall brings instant credibility to the program, and experienced coaches have thrived in the Mountain West lately. I can’t wait to see the Lobos take the field this fall.