Price’s Future At UTEP Unclear At This Point With Meeting Pending
The college football season isn’t over yet, but some schools are already firing and hiring coaches.
After a sixth consecutive losing season at UTEP, ABC-7 asked around Tuesday to get a clearer picture about football coach Mike Price’s future.
Friday’s loss to Central Florida in the season finale dropped the Miners to 5-7. Price, who has been head coach since 2004, said afterward he plans to return next season, although he also said he needs to meet with Athletic Director Bob Stull and UTEP President Diana Natalicio.
But on Tuesday, no one was talking. Is this it for Mike Price?
ABC-7 called Price to discuss his plans for the future, but he would only say he was busy recruiting.
“We like Mike,” UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull said on last week’s ABC-7 Xtra. “The good thing next year is we have almost everybody back.”
Stull wasn’t talking on Tuesday, and sent the following text to ABC-7: “Haven’t met with Mike in our normal postseason meeting yet. Let you know when we do.”
So we asked fans what they thought.
“I think we should give him another year,” said UTEP sophomore student Carlos Reza. “If the results aren’t there, then maybe it’s time to move on.”
Others said the time to move on is now.
“I think it’s time for a new beginning,” said Mina Razo, who attends the football games. “I think we need to get a new coach. I like Price. But I think it’s time. It’s been enough years. It’s been too long and it’s not getting any better.”
Many pointed to falling attendance figures. This year’s average home attendance of less than 27,000 was a nine-year low for the program, the lowest since averaging a little more than 20,000 in former coach Gary Nord’s final year.
“Gauging El Paso right now, that’s one of the biggest questions,” said Steve Kaplowitz, host of ESPN El Paso’s SportsTalk. “Will Mike Price be back to coach the Miners? He said he wants to come back, but ultimately it’s not going to be his decision.”
UTEP boosters also weighed in.
“I haven’t heard one way or the other,” said longtime UTEP booster Russ Vandenburg, who speaks with Price and Stull regularly, and pointed out that Price now has just one year left on his contract. “I can tell you the people I have talked to, would like to see Mike Price back. I’ve shared my thoughts with (Stull). He hasn’t told me anything different than that. He needs to sit down and meet with Natalicio now and discuss the future.”
Everything appears to hinge on Price’s meeting with Stull and Natalicio, a meeting the president’s office said Tuesday has yet to be scheduled.
