Many had high hopes when Danny Gonzales became the head coach at New Mexico after he was Arizona State’s defensive coordinator.
However, the Lobos haven’t won more than three games in any season since he took over going into 2020. He has just five FBS wins and just three victories against Mountain West opponents. That’s leading some to believe Gonzales is on the hot seat this year.
Bringing in another good head coach could be tough because of a perceived lack of potential. Gonzales made $700,000 in total pay last year, via USA Today, which was the second-lowest among Mountain West head coaches. That could also be an issue, but it is an FBS head coaching opportunity nonetheless.
These possibilities might not materialize, but here are some potential candidates New Mexico should pursue if the Lobos need a new head coach in 2024.
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Montana State Head Coach Brent Vigen
Brent Vigen is going to be a popular name when it comes to Group of Five head coaching searches for the next couple years. And that’s for good reason.
Vigen has been Montana State’s head coach since 2021. That first year, he led the Bobcats to their first national championship appearance since 1984. Last season, Montana State reached the national semifinals before losing to the eventual champion, South Dakota State. The Bobcats are now widely regarded as a top-five FCS program.
Vigen also knows the Mountain West. He was an offensive coordinator at Wyoming under head coach Craig Bohl from 2014-20, most notably coaching now-NFL star quarterback Josh Allen.
If Vigen was open to it, New Mexico would be smart to consider hiring him.
Boise State Defensive Coordinator Spencer Danielson
Boise State’s defense has been one of the best units in the country since Spencer Danielson took over.
Last year, the Broncos allowed the sixth-fewest yards in the FBS a season ago (281.5 per game) and the 11th-fewest points (18.5). The season before, they allowed the 12th-fewest points (19 per game).
Danielson was a positional coach at Boise State previously. From 2013-16, he coached at his alma mater, Azusa Pacific. He was a linebackers coach and a recruiting coordinator there.
If New Mexico decides to pursue a defensive-minded head coach, Danielson would be one to think about.
UCLA Offensive Line Coach Tim Drevno
Tim Drevno has coached in myriad roles at many different levels. He has the experience New Mexico might need.
Drevno has coached UCLA’s offensive line since 2021. Before that, he was an offensive line coach as well as a run game and pass protections coordinator at USC from 2019-20 and coached running backs there the year before.
He’s also been an offensive coordinator at Michigan and San Diego, an offensive line coach at Stanford, Idaho, and San Jose State as well as with the San Francisco 49ers, and a running backs coach at UNLV and Montana State. He’s worked with plenty of different positions on offense and has familiarity with Mountain West programs and the western part of the country.
If Drevno were interested in pursuing the opportunity, New Mexico absolutely should think about hiring him.
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Idaho Head Coach Jason Eck
Jason Eck doesn’t have much FBS experience, but has been highly successful at the FCS level and has connections in the Mountain West’s geographical footprint.
Eck is in his second season as Idaho’s head coach. The Vandals went 7-4 last season and earned a trip to the postseason for the first time since 2016.
Before that, he was the offensive coordinator at South Dakota State from 2019-21 and the team’s offensive line coach from 2016-19. Going back to 2000, he’s also been an assistant at Montana State, Minnesota State-Mankato, Western Illinois, Hampton, Ball State, Winona State, Colorado, and Wisconsin.
Eck has proven he can take a program to the next level and is the exact type of coach New Mexico would want.
San Jose State Offensive Coordinator Kevin McGiven
Kevin McGiven is extremely familiar with the Mountain West and the region.
He’s been the offensive coordinator at San Jose State since 2018 and the quarterbacks coach since 2021. The Spartans were fourth in the Mountain West with 368.2 yards and 27.4 points per game last year. McGiven has also mentored the 2023 preseason Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Chevan Cordeiro.
Before this, McGiven was the offensive coordinator at Oregon State from 2016-17 and OSU’s quarterbacks coach in 2015. He was also the OC at Utah State from 2013-14 before leading offenses in the FCS at Montana State (2012), Weber State (2007-08), and Southern Utah (2005).
McGiven has yet to be a Division I head coach, but he should be one New Mexico considers.
