UTEP Coaching Candidates: Five Coaches Who Would Be Good Fits For UTEP Football

Dana Dimel was UTEP’s head coach since 2018. But since then, the Miners had just one winning season and one bowl appearance.

In 2023, the Miners were 3-9 overall and 2-6 against Conference USA teams. That led to Dimel being fired and UTEP searching for a new head coach.

Here are some potential candidates the program might consider.

Texas State Offensive Coordinator Mack Leftwich

Leftwich is not only a former quarterback at UTEP. He’s been a successful assistant coach at both the FCS and FBS levels.

Leftwich began coaching as a student assistant at UTEP. He eventually became a graduate assistant at Incarnate Word in 2018, then was the team’s quarterbacks coach for three years. He was UIW’s offensive coordinator in 2022 and then followed former UIW head coach G.J. Kinne to Texas State.

And in 2023, the Bobcats had one of the most productive offenses in the FBS. They were 10th in the country in yards gained per game (470.8) and 16th in points scored per game (36).

Leftwich would be a good fit at UTEP for many reasons.

UNLV Offensive Coordinator Brennan Marion

Marion is in just his first season as UNLV’s offensive coordinator. However, he’s done well with the Rebels and has other coaching experience in the state of Texas.

Marion has helped UNLV’s offense thrive in 2023. The Rebels are 19th in the FBS in scoring offense with 35.5 points per game, and they are 40th with 424.3 yards per game gained. The Rebels are balanced on that side of the ball as well.

Before this, Marion was a passing game coordinator at Texas in 2022, a wide receivers coach at Pitt in 2021, a wide receivers coach at Hawaii in 2020, an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at William & Mary in 2019, an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Howard in 2017 and 2018, and a running backs coach at Oklahoma Baptist in 2016.

Marion’s track record should make UTEP consider him.

Austin Peay Head Coach Scotty Walden

Walden has both FBS experience and head coaching experience. He could be a good fit for a team like UTEP.

Walden has been Austin Peay’s head coach since 2020. He’s 26-14 during his time there. Though the Governors lost in the first round of the FCS playoffs this year, they’ve won conference championships each of the past two years after going 6-0 in UAC play in 2023.

Previously, Walden coached at Southern Miss. He was a wide receivers coach from 2017-18, then became a co-offensive coordinator in 2019, and took over as head coach there for four games in 2020.

Walden is in a good position to lead UTEP.

Tennessee Running Backs Coach Jerry Mack

Mack has experience as a head coach and a coordinator. He’s also coached in Texas before, so he could be a good fit.

Mack has been Tennessee’s running backs coach since 2021. This year, the Volunteers are 12th in the country with 202.6 rushing yards per game. Leading rusher Jaylen Wright is among the top 40 running backs in the country with 1,013 yards on the ground.

Before this, he was an associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach at Rice. He’s also been a head coach at North Carolina Central, a wide receivers coach at South Alabama and Memphis, an OC and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Central Arkansas, and a wide receivers/tight ends coach at Jackson State.

With a resume like his, Mack deserves to be a head coaching candidate for the Miners.

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SMU Offensive Coordinator Casey Woods

Maybe Woods would want to stay put with SMU going to the ACC next season. But he obviously is familiar with recruiting in Texas, and SMU’s offense has flourished with him as the team’s offensive coordinator. 

The Mustangs were 12th in the FBS in points per game (37.2) and 14th in yards per game (472.8) last year. This year, they are fourth (41.8 points per game) and ninth (471.9 yards per game) in those categories.

Before this, Woods was a tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Missouri. He’s also been an assistant at Arkansas State, UAB, and Auburn.