New Mexico: a football coaching history

Regional Program IV#119 of 138–

See New Mexico’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
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Program GOAT

Rocky Long

Peaked at Regional Program I

Built by

Dennis Franchione

Regional Program V → Regional Program III (+10.8)

The fall

Mike Locksley

Regional Program I → Regional Program IV (−15.4)

Right now

Jason Eck

in year 2 — too new to place in New Mexico's history

Every coach

Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.

2025–now

Jason Eck Short tenure

2026 defense ranked in the 99th percentile nationally — elite

16-5

2024

Bronco Mendenhall Short tenure

2024 defense ranked in the 3th percentile nationally — historically bad

5-7

2020–2023

Danny Gonzales Steady

Danny Gonzales slid New Mexico from Regional Program V to Regional Program VI in 4 seasons.

2021 offense ranked in the 0th percentile nationally — historically bad

−4.3 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 40% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Bobby Hauck’s UNLV run (2010–2014)

16th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Bob Davie (2012–2019) · succeeded by Bronco Mendenhall (2024).

System Shift, on departure

Season	2020	2021	2022	2023
Record & result
Record	2-5	3-9	2-10	4-8
Postseason	—	—	—	—
Recruiting rank	#106	#93	#98	#127
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	42.7	35.9	36.9	44.5
Coordinators
OC	Derek Warehime	Derek Warehime	Derek Warehime	Bryant Vincent
DC	Rocky Long	Rocky Long	Rocky Long	Troy Reffett
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	30	0	0	71
Defense	20	45	60	3
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	39.1	40.6	34.8	44.7
Red-zone pass%	26.3	35.7	22.1	38.4
4th-down go%opp. territory	12.5	39.4	12.5	21.4

Recruiter or developer?

Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.

Offense vs. talent

-11.9 pts

#156 of 208 · middle half

Defense vs. talent

-6.6 pts

#135 of 208 · middle half

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Roster construction · portal era

Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.

Portal arrivals

3.1★ avg rating

Portal departures

left via the portal

Net portal flow

-18

#142 of 187 FBS stints

Who they bring in

Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.

Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.

Avg. size (raw)

6′1″, 221 lbs

across 17 of 25 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix

Size vs. position-typical

+2.1 lbs

#185 of 255 · middle half

Avg. class year

#32 of 255 · top quarter

Top states: TX (4), CA (3), TN (3), GA (2), NM (1)

Who won the portal our read

Talent added

51.9

position-weighted

Talent lost

50.2

position-weighted

Net

+1.7

arrivals minus departures

Best addition: Terry Wilson (QB) from Kentucky

Biggest loss: CJ Montes (QB) to Fordham

Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.

Does the system survive a coordinator change?

OC: Derek Warehime → Bryant Vincent · 2023

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 34.8% → 44.7% (+9.9 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 44% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

DC: Rocky Long → Troy Reffett · 2023

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

Roster size, by position

Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)

Quarterback

207 lbs

6′2″ avg · #540 of 767 · middle half

Running back

198 lbs

5′9″ avg · #677 of 791 · bottom quarter

Wide receiver

187 lbs

6′0″ avg · #640 of 791 · bottom quarter

Tight end

235 lbs

6′3″ avg · #657 of 731 · bottom quarter

Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters

Interior line

313 lbs

6′4″ avg · #243 of 779 · middle half

D-line

276 lbs

6′3″ avg · #548 of 753 · middle half

Linebacker

223 lbs

6′1″ avg · #632 of 772 · bottom quarter

Cornerback

184 lbs

6′0″ avg · #658 of 771 · bottom quarter

Safety

194 lbs

6′0″ avg · #244 of 346 · middle half

Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Edge from high school

75%

#165 of 208 stints

Grows Safety from high school

77%

#174 of 218 stints

1 NFL Draft pick: Jerrick Reed II (2023)

−4.3

11-32

2012–2019

Bob Davie Steady

Bob Davie slid New Mexico from Regional Program IV to Regional Program V in 8 seasons.

Swung 21.5 points of pass rate — #18 of 449 FBS coaching stints since 2004

+2.0 pts over 8 seasons · bottom 48% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Bill Cubit’s Western Michigan run (2005–2012)

12th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed George Barlow (2011) · succeeded by Danny Gonzales (2020–2023).

System Shift, on arrival

Season	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Record & result
Record	4-9	3-9	4-8	7-6	9-4	3-9	3-9	2-10
Postseason	—	—	—	L bowl	W bowl	—	—	—
Recruiting rank	#95	#93	#93	#116	#83	#118	#122	#118
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	18.3	22.7	20.3	26.5	20.6	30.9	36.4	39.8
Coordinators
OC	—	—	Bob DeBesse	Bob DeBesse	Bob DeBesse	Bob DeBesse	Calvin Magee	Joe Dailey
DC	—	—	Kevin Cosgrove	Kevin Cosgrove	Kevin Cosgrove	Kevin Cosgrove	Kevin Cosgrove	Jordan Peterson
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	48	70	68	57	95	13	8	22
Defense	6	0	5	26	4	14	19	8
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	17.1	23.7	18.0	19.8	16.8	24.5	25.9	37.1
Red-zone pass%	11.3	7.5	5.7	10.3	11.6	19.4	18.2	33.3
4th-down go%opp. territory	48.6	45.5	55.0	35.9	48.6	35.1	15.0	31.4

Recruiter or developer?

Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and underperforms his recruiting talent on defense.

Offense vs. talent

-1.8 pts

#118 of 208 · middle half

Defense vs. talent

-27.6 pts

#195 of 208 · bottom quarter

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Does the system survive a coordinator change?

OC: Bob DeBesse → Calvin Magee · 2018

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 24.5% → 25.9% (+1.4 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 78% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

OC: Calvin Magee → Joe Dailey · 2019

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 25.9% → 37.1% (+11.1 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 79% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

DC: Kevin Cosgrove → Jordan Peterson · 2019

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

Postseason detail2015: Lost to Arizona 37-45 Gildan New Mexico Bowl2016: Beat UTSA 23-20 Gildan New Mexico Bowl

1 NFL Draft pick: Jason Sanders (2018)

+2.0

35-64

2011

George Barlow Short tenure

2011 defense ranked in the 4th percentile nationally — historically bad

1-7

2009–2011

Mike Locksley Decliner≈

the Lobos fell from Regional Program I to Regional Program IV under Mike Locksley.

2011 defense ranked in the 4th percentile nationally — historically bad

−15.4 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 2% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Kevin Steele’s Baylor run (1999–2002)

7th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Rocky Long (1998–2008) · succeeded by George Barlow (2011).

System Shift, on arrival

Season	2009	2010	2011
Record & result
Record	1-11	1-11	0-4
Postseason	—	—	—
Recruiting rank	#106	#79	#105
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	56.6	45.3	46.7
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	24	6	15
Defense	48	16	4
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	47.9	35.3	39.2
Red-zone pass%	54.2	34.5	41.0
4th-down go%opp. territory	34.1	8.3	36.0

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

1 NFL Draft pick: Erik Cook (2010)

−15.4

2-26

1998–2008

Rocky Long Steady

Rocky Long moved New Mexico from Regional Program III to Regional Program I in 11 seasons.

2007 defense ranked in the 96th percentile nationally — elite

+6.2 pts over 11 seasons · bottom 26% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Paul Pasqualoni’s Syracuse run (1991–2004)

1st-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Dennis Franchione (1992–1997) · succeeded by Mike Locksley (2009–2011).

System Shift, on departure

Season	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Record & result
Record	3-9	4-7	5-7	6-5	7-7	8-5	7-5	6-5	6-7	9-4	4-8
Postseason	—	—	—	—	L bowl	L bowl	L bowl	—	L bowl	W bowl	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—	—	#88	#87	#68	#95	#96
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—	—	33.0	37.1	47.4	46.5	34.8
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—	—	59	38	61	26	47
Defense	—	—	—	—	—	—	34	93	88	96	62
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	32.1	29.9	42.7	43.5	29.5
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	37.1	27.2	40.4	25.4	15.0
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	34.4	14.3	34.3	32.0

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

Postseason detail2002: Lost to UCLA 13-27 Bowl2003: Lost to Oregon State 14-55 Bowl2004: Lost to Navy 19-34 Bowl2006: Lost to San José State 12-20 Bowl2007: Beat Nevada 23-0 Bowl

12 NFL Draft picks: Brian Urlacher (2000), Casey Tisdale (2000), Joe Maese (2001), Jarrod Baxter (2002), Claude Terrell (2005), Nick Speegle (2005), Ryan Cook (2006), Terrance Pennington (2006) + 4 more

+6.2

65-69

1992–1997

Dennis Franchione Steady≈

Dennis Franchione moved New Mexico from Regional Program V to Regional Program III in 6 seasons.

+10.8 pts over 6 seasons · top 15% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Jim Mora’s UCLA run (2012–2017)

9th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Mike Sheppard (1987–1991) · succeeded by Rocky Long (1998–2008).

Season	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
Record & result
Record	3-8	6-5	5-7	4-7	6-5	9-4
Postseason	—	—	—	—	—	L bowl
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—	—
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1997: Lost to Colorado State 13-41 Bowl1997: Lost to Arizona 14-20 Bowl

4 NFL Draft picks: David Sloan (1995), Stoney Case (1995), Ramos McDonald (1998), Scott McGarrahan (1998)

+10.8

33-36

1987–1991

Mike Sheppard Steady

Mike Sheppard slid the Lobos from Regional Program III to Regional Program IV in 5 seasons.

−7.8 pts over 5 seasons · bottom 21% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Chuck Long’s San Diego State run (2006–2008)

14th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Joe Lee Dunn (1983–1986) · succeeded by Dennis Franchione (1992–1997).

1 NFL Draft pick: Terance Mathis (1990)

−7.8

9-50

1983–1986

Joe Lee Dunn Steady

Joe Lee Dunn slid the Lobos from Regional Program II to Regional Program III in 4 seasons.

−6.7 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 27% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Charlie Sadler’s Northern Illinois run (1991–1995)

4th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Joe Morrison (1980–1982) · succeeded by Mike Sheppard (1987–1991).

2 NFL Draft picks: Jimmie Carter (1984), Derwin Williams (1984)

−6.7

17-30

1980–1982

Joe Morrison Steady

Joe Morrison slid New Mexico from Regional Program I to Regional Program II in 3 seasons.

−1.9 pts over 3 seasons · top 43% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Ted Roof’s Duke run (2003–2007)

6th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Bill Mondt (1974–1979) · succeeded by Joe Lee Dunn (1983–1986).

2 NFL Draft picks: Brad Wright (1981), Ricky Martin (1981)

−1.9

18-15-1

1974–1979

Bill Mondt Steady

Bill Mondt moved New Mexico from Regional Program IV to Regional Program I in 6 seasons.

+7.9 pts over 6 seasons · top 23% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Charlie Weatherbie’s Navy run (1995–2001)

3rd-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Rudy Feldman (1968–1973) · succeeded by Joe Morrison (1980–1982).

6 NFL Draft picks: Steve Myer (1976), Robin Cole (1977), Andy Frederick (1977), Bruce Herron (1977), Charles Baker (1980), Chris Combs (1980)

+7.9

32-36-1

1968–1973

Rudy Feldman Steady

Rudy Feldman held New Mexico at Regional Program IV for 6 seasons.

+4.3 pts over 6 seasons · top 38% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Matt Wells’s Utah State run (2013–2018)

11th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Bill Weeks (1960–1967) · succeeded by Bill Mondt (1974–1979).

2 NFL Draft picks: Sam Scarber (1971), Don Woods (1974)

+4.3

24-37-2

1960–1967

Bill Weeks Steady

Bill Weeks moved New Mexico from Regional Program IV to Regional Program I in 8 seasons.

+7.1 pts over 8 seasons · top 27% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Steve Sarkisian’s Texas run (2021–now)

2nd-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Marv Levy (1958–1959) · succeeded by Rudy Feldman (1968–1973).

1 NFL Draft pick: Douglas Dalton (1968)

+7.1

40-41-1

1958–1959

Marv Levy Short tenure

14-6

1956–1957

Dick Clausen Short tenure

8-12

1953–1955

Robert Titchenal Steady

Robert Titchenal held the Lobos at Regional Program IV for 3 seasons.

+0.2 pts over 3 seasons · top 33% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Jeff Genyk’s Eastern Michigan run (2004–2008)

13th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Dudley DeGroot (1950–1952) · succeeded by Dick Clausen (1956–1957).

+0.2

12-16-1

1950–1952

Dudley DeGroot Steady

Dudley DeGroot held New Mexico at Regional Program IV for 3 seasons.

−1.6 pts over 3 seasons · top 41% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Jeff Horton’s UNLV run (1994–1998)

15th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Berl Huffman (1947–1949) · succeeded by Robert Titchenal (1953–1955).

−1.6

13-17

1947–1949

Berl Huffman Steady

Berl Huffman slid the Lobos from Regional Program III to Regional Program IV in 3 seasons.

−3.6 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 44% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Jerry Baldwin’s Louisiana run (1999–2001)

10th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Willis Barnes (1944–1946) · succeeded by Dudley DeGroot (1950–1952).

−3.6

8-22-1

1942, 1944–1946

Willis Barnes Steady

Willis Barnes slid New Mexico from Regional Program II to Regional Program III in 4 seasons.

−3.8 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 43% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Ron English’s Eastern Michigan run (2009–2013)

8th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Ted Shipkey (1937–1941) · succeeded by Berl Huffman (1947–1949).

−3.8

16-18-5

1937–1941

Ted Shipkey Steady

Ted Shipkey held the Lobos at Regional Program II for 5 seasons.

+1.5 pts over 5 seasons · top 26% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Nick Saban’s Michigan State run (1995–1999)

5th-best New Mexico tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Gwinn Henry (1936) · succeeded by Willis Barnes (1942).

+1.5

30-17-2

1936

Gwinn Henry Short tenure

2-7

Stature and coaches, 1936–2026

Every coach