Price coaches his last Miners game

Mike Price coached his last game Saturday night against the Rice Owls. Price is retiring and moving on.

“I think he was a great coach overall, has a great personality,” said freshmen defensive end Brian Madunezim. “End It was just that at the end of the day he wasn’t producing.”

During his nine years at UTEP he had two winning seasons, and before playing the Rice Owls his record stands at a total of 48 wins and 60 losses.

“His record on a percentage-wise is still more successful than any other UTEP coaches,” said Miners fan Jason Gonzales.

With 66 wins, only Mack Saxon can top Price’s legacy. But Price began his UTEP career amidst low expectations. After coaching at Washington State for 14 years, he was hired by Alabama in 2002, only to be fired in less than a year for drinking heavily and going to a strip club. But UTEP took their chances with the coach and fans say the university came out on top.

“I think he did well considering what he’s got and what he had to work with,” said Miners fan Santos Carrera.

Price recruited Brian Madunezim, a freshman defensive end who says he will always respect Price. But now, he has to look ahead.

“I’m looking forward to the future for Andre Patterson,” Madunezim said. “I really hope he gets the job because 13 years in the NFL — you can’t top that.”

Defensive coordinator Patterson was endorsed by Price to take over, but Price, who’s retiring in El Paso, will more than likely be keeping an eye on the Miners.

“I’ll be around,”said Price.