UTEP fired football coach Dana Dimel after finishing the season at 3-9, athletic director Jim Senter announced Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Dimel, 61, departs after coaching UTEP for six seasons and amassing a 20-49 record.
- The Miners lost 42-28 to Liberty on Saturday, marking their third consecutive loss.
- UTEP’s only three wins came against Incarnate Word, which plays in the non-major Southland Conference, and conference opponents Florida International and Sam Houston.
UTEP coaching candidates
This is one of the toughest jobs in FBS. It’s a difficult location for recruiting and the facilities aren’t great. But it gives patience to its coaches.
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Some potential names to watch include Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, Idaho coach Jason Eck, Austin Peay coach Scotty Walden, Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, Oklahoma analyst Matt Wells and Texas State offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich. — Chris Vannini, college football senior writer
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UTEP after Dana Dimel: Pluses and minuses of the job
What they’re saying
“When (Dimel) was hired, UTEP Football was coming off a winless season, and he built a more competitive team,” Senter said. “However, we have not seen the kind of improvement necessary to compete for and win championships. We determined that a change in leadership was needed for the program to move forward.”
Backstory
Dimel came to UTEP in 2018 after serving as Kansas State’s longtime offensive coordinator under Bill Snyder. The Miners marked his return to a head coaching role after he led Wyoming and Houston earlier in his career.
During Dimel’s tenure with the Miners, the team made one bowl appearance in 2021, a loss to Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl.
Required reading
(Photo: Zachary BonDurant / USA Today)
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