Jerry Kill, the Conference USA Co-Coach of the Year, was the first head coach at New Mexico State to lead the Aggies to bowl games in back-to-back seasons in over 60 years. He set up NMSU for success quickly in just two seasons.
However, Kill announced he was resigning from his role at NM State. Thus, the Aggies are turning to wide receivers coach and former NMSU wideout Tony Sanchez to continue the program’s success.
“Firstly, I want to extend my sincere thanks to the New Mexico State administration—President Jay Gogue, Mario Moccia, and Braun Cartwright,” Kill said in a press release. “They’ve been invaluable in our achievements over the last two years. I also want to express my deep gratitude to the people of Las Cruces. Aggie Nation has been incredibly supportive, and I will always be thankful for the opportunity I was given to lead their team.
“This year has been tremendously difficult for me, and I gave it everything I had physically, mentally and emotionally. New Mexico State holds a special place in my heart as it marks the end of my journey as a head coach. While I’ll remain involved with the Aggies, I recognize the need for a head coach with a lot of energy. Good luck to Coach Sanchez, the student-athletes and New Mexico State University.”
Kill has certainly proven the Aggies can win in CUSA, and Sanchez should provide some stability. Here’s a look at where Sanchez has coached thus far.
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Tony Sanchez’s Resume
Sanchez becoming NMSU’s head coach was a full-circle moment. He played for the Aggies in the 1990s and caught 54 passes for 741 yards and five touchdowns during his playing career.
Then he became an undergraduate assistant coach at NM State in 1996 and began coaching in the high school ranks the following year. As the head coach at California High School in Ramon, California, he won 35 games and at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, he went 85-5 and won six consecutive state championships.
That led to him becoming UNLV’s head coach before the 2015 season where he went 20-40 overall. He was an offensive analyst in 2021 at TCU before going with Jerry Kill to New Mexico State and becoming his alma mater’s wide receivers coach for two years.
Tony Sanchez’s Coaching History
Years | Team | Position |
2024 | NMSU | HC |
2022-23 | NSMU | WRs |
2021 | TCU | O. Analyst |
2015-19 | UNLV | HC |
2009-14 | Bishop Gorman High | HC |
2004-08 | California High | HC |
2003 | Oñate High | DC |
2001-02 | Oñate High | DBs |
2000 | Irvin High | WRs |
1998 | Oñate High | WR |
1996 | NMSU | Assistant |
What’s The Salary For New Mexico State Football Head Coach Tony Sanchez?
Tony Sanchez made $130,000 in 2023, according to USA Today, as an assistant at NMSU. The exact contract details for Sanchez as NMSU’s new head coach have not been widely publicized.
However, he could be expected to make about what former Aggies head coach Jerry Kill made in 2023. Kill made $600,000 in total pay last season.