ABC-7 Xtra: A New Era in UTEP Football
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A less than illustrious Miner football season led to the end of the Dana Dimel head coaching era. This week, UTEP ushered in the start of the Scotty Walden era. The university introduced Walden to the public as the new head football coach Wednesday.
That new head coach wasted no time injecting enthusiasm into Miner nation when he was introduced this week.
Walden is no stranger to the region.
He played quarterback at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, a school only 220 miles from El Paso, and a University that recruits heavily from the Borderland.
Before coming to UTEP, Walden was head coach at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, leading that football team to two conference championships.
That school plays in a NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. UTEP plays in a high tier division, the FBS, the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Joe Gomez is a long-time booster, attending games since 1965. He witnessed the beginning of the Walden era during the newly-named coaches introduction to Miner nation Wednesday.
"I'm very excited. I can't wait till 2024 to go to the first game. I think he'll do well. We may not win every game, but he'll win enough games to make us happy," said Gomez.
This Sunday on ABC-7 Xtra, host Saul Saenz asks UTEP Athletic Director Jim Senter whether hiring Walden is what UTEP needs to fill Sun Bowl seats during the regular season.
"Absolutely, we're looking for energy... but this is a process and we're gonna trust the process and that's why we brought this guy in, cause we believe in the process and the culture he's gonna create, we're gonna win ball games," said Senter.
Saul also asks Senter just how much Walden will be earning as the new head football coach. You can catch Senter's response this Sunday on ABC-7 Xtra, after ABC-7 at 10 weekend edition.
