Some former New Mexico State football coaches continue to pop up on the national radar.
While Vanderbilt hired Derek Mason as its next head football coach to replace James Franklin - who accepted the head job at Penn State - the Commodores also hired a former Aggie assistant: Mason spent the 2004 season as a wide receivers coach at NMSU.
To Vanderbilt, Mason brought with him two other former Aggie assistant coaches - Gerry Gdowski (who will coach wide receivers with the Commodores) and Keven Lightner (who will coach the offensive line). A former Aggie player, David Kotulski - a 1974 graduate who took the field at linebacker - was also named Vanderbilt's defensive coordinator.
Mason, Gdowski and Lightner were all Aggie assistants under former NMSU head coach Tony Samuel.
Speaking of Samuel, he saw his run as head coach at Southeast Missouri State come to an end when he was fired as Redhawks head coach immediately following the 2013 season. Samuel's highlight at the school came during the 2010 season, when he led Southeast to the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs, where the school lost to eventual champion Eastern Washington in the second round. Following that season, Samuel was named FCS National Coach of the Year.
Speaking of former NMSU coaches, Hal Mumme was recently named head coach at Belhaven of the NAIA. Another former Aggie head man, DeWayne Walker, continues his efforts in the NFL ranks following his first season as defensive backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Walker and the Jaguars coaching staff took the sidelines during this past weekend's Senior Bowl, as they prepare for the 2014 NFL Draft.
And, back to the FCS level, former Aggie defensive coordinator (and current University of San Diego head coach) Dale Lindsey was named to the All-Freshman Team by College Sports Journal as their coach of the year. The Toreros finished this past season with an 8-3 overall record.
Lindsey's coaching staff also has some NMSU connections within it: Juan Lozano (director of football operations) worked under Walker at NMSU, while USD wide receivers coach Cory Martin is the son of current Aggie head coach Doug Martin.
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2 comments:
More proof that Tony Samuels had one of the best staff's/ players/ offense in NMSU history!
NMSU promised him a lot, and screwed him at the end!!
I hope Coach Martin can right the ship!
True dat
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