Bronco Mendenhall introduced as UNM's head football coach

Standing at the podium, Bronco Mendenhall admitted it didn’t feel like much of a full-circle moment.

“Some people say full circle where you get back and stop,” he said. “I see this as an additional circle.”

That theme — something familiar, but new — defined Mendenhall’s introductory press conference as New Mexico’s new head football coach Thursday morning at the Pit, one that opened with him even surprised by his own emotion.

“The University of New Mexico has a special place in my heart — otherwise, right, I would not be here,” he said steadily with a smile and tears in his eyes. “This program, I know, is capable of sustained success, continued success and excellence. I’ve been part of it. I’ve seen it.

“And I’m looking forward to recapturing that. Not only occasionally, but consistently.”

Hired by UNM on Tuesday and announced on Wednesday, Mendenhall, 57, accumulated a 135-81 record over 17 seasons as the head coach at BYU and Virginia. He largely returned the Cougars to prominence from 2005-2015 winning back-to-back Mountain West titles in his second and third seasons, before taking the Cavaliers to new heights from 2016-2021.

Set to make a guaranteed $1.2 million per year on a five-year, $6 million contract, Mendenhall is now the highest paid state employee in New Mexico. Incentives are largely based on performance; for example, if UNM were to win a Mountain West championship under Mendenhall, he would pocket an additional $50,000.

Mendenhall served as UNM’s defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach under former head coach Rocky Long from 1998-2002, helping the Lobos “re-become” a consistently winning program. Memories of those days remained front and center as he spoke about the opportunity at hand.

“It was three (wins in 1998) and then we worked as hard as we possibly could we won four,” Mendenhall remembered, “and then we worked as hard as we possibly could, and we won five. And then we laid exhausted winning six. When we didn’t think there was any more, we won seven.

“And then as I transitioned out, we won eight. … My hope is to expedite that whole process in that time frame, rather than three to four to five to six to seven to eight,” he chuckled. “But that’s what it took before. And I’m anxious to make that a shorter, but as effective, window of Lobo football.”

Organizational changes

That window will start with an entirely new staff. Mendenhall said he won’t retain anybody on former head coach Danny Gonzales’ staff and won’t bring in anybody else with UNM connections, drawing instead on a group from the “different paths” along his career.

As for what the Lobos will do schematically, Mendenhall promised flexibility. He said he and his staff will maintain a style of play adapted to his current roster and what the players do well on both sides of the ball, not the other way around.

It could change year-to-year or even game-to-game, Mendenhall added.

“The hardest things to play against, or to fight against in the world of warfare, are the things you can’t name,” Mendenhall continued. “Once you say wishbone, I can prepare for the wishbone. Once you say run and shoot, I can prepare for that. Once you say Air Raid, I can prepare.

“What if you can’t name it? Where do you start preparation-wise? I like that approach for UNM — where they don’t know what they’re going to see or what they’re going to get.”

Mendenhall made it clear he won’t call the defense — “as much fun as it is,” he said — and will focus on maintaining the rest of the program.

“My obsession is with the entirety of the organization,” he said. “The question earlier was the consistency — how does that happen? It’s that approach of a comprehensive intensity and obsession, rather than just a one-side-of-the-ball obsession.”

New challenges

Mendenhall resigned from his previous post at Virginia in 2021, with college football’s transfer portal in full swing and compensation for players through Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals in its infancy. He noted that both make rebuilding a program “drastically” different — if not more difficult — but largely struck a supportive tone toward two of college football’s defining trends.

Regarding the portal, Mendenhall said he prefers roster continuity but turnover is inevitable. Limiting it through NIL, however, will be an emphasis.

“The kids that we love right now in our program, if you want them to stay, there’s a competitive marketplace out there,” he said. “And as much as I love them and they love me and they know the trajectory of the program, we have to be able to compete also on that plane.”

Measuring success

UNM hasn’t had a winning season since 2016, winning more than three games for the first time in 2023 under former head coach Danny Gonzales. It projects as a rebuild for Mendenhall, who said he relishes the challenge but likes to win “maybe more than anyone” at the press conference.

“That’s my expectation,” he said. “The longer the season goes, the more I like it. And the sooner that happens and the more consistently that happens, the more I like it — while young men are graduating, while they’re contributing in the community, while they’re developing amazing relationships, while they’re becoming the best version of themselves so when football’s over, they’re exceptional.

“But (so) they also know who they are without football. And that’s one of the biggest challenges for any of us — does our performance define us? I would love (for) them to know how important that is but also, when football’s done, for them to know and be ready for whatever life throws at them (and) they’re prepared and capable.”

Photos: UNM introduces Bronco Mendenhall as new Lobos football head coach