UTEP Announces Coach Mike Price Will Return In 2012

UTEP Athletics Director Bob Stull announced on Thursday that football coach Mike Price will return for a his ninth season in 2012.

Price, who has led the Miners to three bowl games, is the nation’s sixth-winningest active head coach with 174 victories. He has 45 wins and 52 losses at UTEP, and is one victory away from tying Mike Brumbelow (1950-56) for the second-most in school history.

According to a news release issued by the university, in 97 games under Price’s direction, UTEP has had more 30-point (53), 40-point (23) and 50-point (six) games than any other coach in UTEP history.

Price has coached UTEP’s all-time leader for passing yards, Trevor Vittatoe; total offense, Vittatoe; receiving yards, Johnnie Lee Higgins Jr.; all-purpose yards, Howard Jackson; and the single-season rushing champion, Donald Buckram. The Price era has produced seven of the top-10 single season total offense totals in school history, five of the top-10 passing yardage averages and seven of the top-10 point totals.

In 31 seasons prior to Price’s arrival (1973-2003), the Miners averaged 2.6 wins per year, with four years of five or more victories. UTEP has averaged 5.6 wins under Price, with six years of five or more victories.

The Miners return 11 starters, including seven on offense, for the 2012 campaign.