UTEP’s new head basketball coach introduced to Sun City
EL PASO, Texas -- New UTEP Men’s Basketball Head Coach Joe Golding arrived in the Sun City on Wednesday and was formally introduced on the court at the Don Haskins Center.
Golding flew in by private plane to the Santa Teresa airport, saying he was "honored and humbled to be the next head coach at UTEP."
Golding's introduction as the 20th head coach in UTEP men’s basketball history comes after a decade at Abilene Christian that included an upset victory over Texas in the first round of this season’s NCAA Tournament in a Big Dance shocker.
“That was kind of like icing on the cake. But the cake of Joe Golding is really the remarkable job that he’s done at Abilene Christian University,” UTEP athletic director Jim Senter said when introducing the new coach.
He added that "Coach Golding is highly thought of by his peers" and said his name kept coming up in UTEP's search.
The 45-year-old Golding was 158-144 during his 10 seasons as coach of his alma mater, guiding Abilene Christian’s transition from NCAA Division II to Division I and to the last two NCAA tournaments. The Wildcats were 71-23 overall the past three seasons, including 24-5 this season.
UTEP hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2010, but Golding insisted he doesn’t anticipate a long-term process to get the Miners back there.
“I did not come to UTEP to spend 10 years in building this program. This program has already been built,” he said. “My job here at UTEP is win in year one.”
He added, "I look forward to putting the Miner program back on top in Conference USA.”
Golding replaces Rodney Terry, who left after three seasons to be an assistant at Texas under new Longhorns coach Chris Beard, who left Texas Tech. UTEP was 12-12 this season.
Golding grew up in Midland and West Texas, and said he knows all about the storied history of the program, including the 1966 national championship team and legendary coach Don Haskins. Golding said he “got goosebumps and almost cried” when getting his picture taken Wednesday in front of that championship trophy, and has watched the movie “Glory Road” about 100 times.
During his introduction, Golding asked and answered the question about why he was there after building what he had at Abilene Christian.
“Man, look up at the rafters. This place has history, this place has a tradition,” he said. “This place knows how to win and it’s ready to win.”
Golding, who played point guard at ACU from 1994-98, became head coach there in 2011. The Wildcats began competing at the Division I level during the 2013-14 season and five years later made their first NCAA Tournament appearance.
UTEP President Heather Wilson said she was excited about "welcoming Joe and his family to El Paso," adding that “Joe has the combination of experience, character and grit that will be a good fit at UTEP."
Golding and his wife, Amanda, have two sons, Cason and Chase.
