UTEP Miner Football

A proven winner in 22 years as a head coach, Mike Price took over the helm of the UTEP football program on Dec. 21, 2003. “I feel reborn,” Price said at his introductory news conference. “I think this is the right situation for me. My dad told me a long time ago if you go somewhere where you’re wanted and needed, your chances for success are a lot better. I want to be here. It’s a match made in heaven.”

“I think everybody knows that Mike Price is a great coach,” said UTEP president Dr. Diana Natalicio. “We are very pleased that he will resume his brilliant career at the University of Texas-El Paso.” “I’ve never met a better football coach and a better person,” said UTEP director of athletics Bob Stull. “This is a rare opportunity for us. This is a win-win situation for UTEP and Mike Price.”

The hiring of the 1997 National Coach of the Year was greeted with applause from fans and media across the country. “There are two ways to look at Price,” wrote Ivan Maisel, senior writer for college football at ESPN.com. “UTEP chose to view him through a forgiving lens. It’s a nice story at this time of year.”

“Most everyone is due a second chance,” wrote Dallas Morning News columnist Kevin Blackistone. “What should be required is that they’ve learned the lesson from their banishment, and that they were not banished in the first place for something utterly abominable … [Price] is worthy of another trip to the plate.”

“Twenty-two seasons as a head coach…five players taken in the first round of the NFL draft…two Pac-10 Conference titles and one national coach of the year award…always leaving each place better than he found it…,” wrote Jim Litke, a national sports columnist for the Associated Press. “Hiring [Price] took longer than it should [have].”

Price, 58, was the head coach at Washington State University from 1989-2002. During his stint with the Cougars he compiled an 83-78 record, with three 10-win seasons and five bowl appearances. His last two teams at Washington State combined for a 20-5 record (13-3 in the Pac-10 Conference).

Price’s 2002 unit was the Pac-10 co-champion with a 7-1 mark, and met Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl. Price was the head coach at Weber State from 1981-88, registering a 46-44 record. His career record is 129-122 in 22 years of coaching, with three conference titles. The 2002 Cougars finished 10-3 under Price, including a 30-27 overtime victory over USC.

Washington State ranked eighth nationally in rushing defense (87.2 ypg), 13th in passing offense (292.7 ypg), 16th in total offense (421.9 ypg) and 17th in scoring offense (33.2 ppg) at year’s end. The Cougars were second in the Pac-10 in total offense, third in total defense (342.5 ypg), and rated among the national leaders in sacks with 55.

Quarterback Jason Gesser tallied a 146.44 passing efficiency rating, seventh-best in the country. He completed 236 of 402 passes for 3,408 yards with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The Cougar defense was anchored by defensive tackle Rien Long, winner of the Outland Trophy and a first team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. Long totaled 21.5 tackles for losses and 13 sacks in 2002.

Another standout for the Cougars was defensive back Jason David, who was second in the nation with 0.7 interceptions per game. Washington State was 10-2 in 2001, tying for second place in the Pac-10. The Cougars beat Purdue 33-27 in the Sun Bowl in El Paso. Price was named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year for the third time, and was one of three finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. Nineteen Cougars earned All-Pac 10 recognition, and 14 were selected Academic All-Pac 10. Senior free safety Lamont Thompson was chosen a first team All-American by the Associated Press after rating second nationally in interceptions (0.73 per game).

Price’s 2001 squad ranked 10th in the country in passing offense (300.9 ypg), 13th in scoring offense (35.2 ppg) and 17th in total offense (438.6 ypg). The 1997 Cougars posted a 10-2 mark, the first 10-win season for Washington State in 68 years. Washington State tied for first place in the Pac-10 with a 7-1 record. Price was tabbed the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and The Sporting News Coach of the Year. The Cougars dropped a narrow 21-16 decision to eventual national champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Price guided Washington State to a 6-5 record in 1989, his first season at the helm of the program after taking over for Dennis Erickson. He was appointed the Pac-10 Coach of the Year by The Sporting News that year.

During his 14 years at Washington State, Price coached five players who were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft ?? running back Steve Broussard (20th pick by Atlanta in 1990), quarterback Drew Bledsoe (first pick by New England in 1993), linebacker Mark Fields (15th pick by New Orleans in 1995), quarterback Ryan Leaf (second pick by San Diego in 1998) and defensive back Marcus Trufant (11th pick by Seattle in 2003).

Price orchestrated four winning seasons at Weber State, including a 10-3 campaign in 1987. The Wildcats were Big Sky Conference co-champions that year, and reached the quarterfinals of the I-AA playoffs. Weber State fashioned a 7-4 ledger in 1981, Price??s first year as a collegiate head coach. The Wildcats lost to eventual I-AA champion Idaho State in triple overtime.

Price has had extensive experience coaching in postseason All-Star games. He was the head coach of the West team in the 2003 East-West Shrine Game. He was also the West head coach in the 1998 Hula Bowl. He was the associate head coach for the West team in the 1995 East-West Shrine Game, and the offensive head coach for the North team in the 1993 Kelly Tires Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic.

He previously was an assistant coach at Washington State (graduate assistant, 1969-70 and running backs, 1974-77), Missouri (quarterbacks and receivers, 1978-80) and Puget Sound (offensive coordinator, 1971-73). He coached in three bowl games as an assistant (1978 Liberty, 1979 Hall of Fame, 1980 Liberty). Price played collegiately at Washington State (1965-66) and Puget Sound (1967-68), seeing time at quarterback and defensive back.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from the Puget Sound in 1969. He added a master’s degree in physical education from Washington State in 1970. A native of Everett, Wash., Price was an all-conference quarterback and three-year varsity letterwinner at Everett High School.

Price is married to the former Joyce Taylor. They have three children ?? Eric (37), Aaron (34) and Angie (29), all with football ties. Eric played football at Weber State and coached under his father at Washington State.

Aaron played at Washington State for two years, and also assisted his father as the Cougars’ quarterbacks and kickers coach. Both Eric and Aaron are on Price’s staff at UTEP. Angie graduated from Washington State in 1997, and is married to a high school athletic director.