Miner Rush is reporting that Sean Kugler has stepped down.

Now it is being reported that Mike Price will be the interim coach.

Now it's all over the news. He's officially out.

Congrats UTEP. Kruger loved coaching UTEP but the struggles have been real. Hopefully you'll find a coach to bring the program forward.

Sad to see the man lose his job, but hopefully UTEP can salvage some wins in the remainder of the season.

What's sad is that UTEP waited until the 2017 season was half over before firing this guy. Should have happened last December. No excuses.

(10-01-2017 03:56 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  What's sad is that UTEP waited until the 2017 season was half over before firing this guy. Should have happened last December. No excuses.

Yes, a lot of us were asking the admin to make the change after last season. Hate for him to fail and wish him the best in the future but this is best for the program. I just hope they make a really good hire this time. Whoever the new AD will be is going to have a chance to put his or her stamp on UTEP athletics right away.

I hate mid-season firings. Usually a ranking staff (OC/DC) is elevated to interim head coach. If they do a passable job the administration hires them and you generally get a passable coach till he’s fired (think LSU). It’s lazy and not very good for change. It takes a strong administration to hire some new blood and clean house. Hopefully that’s the scenario you get and deserve UTEP.

(10-01-2017 04:14 PM)Migser31 Wrote:  I hate mid-season firings. Usually a ranking staff (OC/DC) is elevated to interim head coach. If they do a passable job the administration hires them and you generally get a passable coach till he’s fired (think LSU). It’s lazy and not very good for change. It takes a strong administration to hire some new blood and clean house. Hopefully that’s the scenario you get and deserve UTEP.

I wish the "deserve" part was true but the admin has been way too patient with losing coaches. I do hope the new AD will be more focused on results and not UTEP family ties which seems to have plagued Stull, our retiring AD.

Midseason firings allow the admin to begin the coaching search with time to find the right guy. UTEP needs to find some admin staff also so there is a lot to do.

I nominate Sonny Dykes as tribute

(10-02-2017 01:39 AM)techdawg88 Wrote:  I nominate Sonny Dykes as tribute

UTEP fans have brought his name up quite often. Also El Paso media are suggesting Sterlin Gilbert, OC at USF; Colby Carthel, head coach of Div ll Angelo St; OC at Okie St Mike Yurcich; Harrell the OC at UNT; Eric Morriss, the OC at Texas Tech.

ESPN report says Yurcich is a top candidate for the job. Knowing UTEP like I do they will find some obscure former UTEP FB player that is running a car wash somewhere and name him head coach.

All Jokes aside. Dykes would make UTEP win for about two years before skipping town under cover of darkness.

From what I heard, Kugler wasn't fired but instead stepped down.

Look for Brian Napkin to finish the season and win the job.

Good for Kugler having the character to do that. Apparently David Bailiff hasn't received the same memo.

the Baylor message boards seem to think that Art Briles is gonna get the call to UTEP. women of El Paso and CUSA defenses, ye be warned

(10-02-2017 03:33 PM)UNT15 Wrote:  the Baylor message boards seem to think that Art Briles is gonna get the call to UTEP. women of El Paso and CUSA defenses, ye be warned

I seriously doubt that UTEP's president, Dr. Diana Natalicio, will entertain that idea at all.

We need some triple option in CUSA.

UTEP is already built for the run and has trouble recruiting top level G5 talent to the area. Triple option would be a huge equalizer and potentially set them up to compete sooner rather than later.

(10-02-2017 02:41 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  From what I heard, Kugler wasn't fired but instead stepped down.

Look for Brian Napkin to finish the season and win the job.

Napkin once again gets called on to clean up the mess.

Reports saying Mike Price will be the interim coach. Wow speechless.

Wasn't Price... not good?