UNM football: Lobos complete coaching staff, land commitments from three-star prospects

The Lobos’ on-field coaching staff is complete.

New Mexico hired former Southern Miss defensive coordinator Clay Bignell as its safeties coach, the program announced Thursday.

A 12-year coaching veteran, Bignell previously held positions at FCS Eastern Illinois, Vanderbilt, East Carolina, Notre Dame and Northwestern. He joins tight ends coach Jared Elliott as the second position coach on staff with coordinator experience; the latter served as Ball State’s offensive coordinator last season.

A UNM spokesperson confirmed to the Journal that Bignell represents the last on-field hire under head coach Jason Eck. An additional off-field hire is expected soon.

Bignell, 36, joins the Lobos after spending one season at Southern Miss, where he coached safeties and coordinated a defense that allowed a Sun Belt-worst 37.8 points per game. Former Golden Eagles coach Will Hall was fired midseason and Bignell was not retained by new head coach Charles Huff.

Before Southern Miss, Bignell served as Eastern Illinois’ defensive coordinator and safeties coach. In 2023 — his first season as a defensive coordinator — the Panthers allowed a Big South/OVC-best 19.7 points per game and led the conference in interceptions (14) and forced fumbles (13).

Bignell spent 2020 and 2021 as a senior defensive analyst at East Carolina and Vanderbilt, respectively, after a four-year run at Notre Dame. After starting with the Irish as a graduate assistant in 2016, he helped coach Notre Dame’s outside linebackers and defensive backs before being promoted to senior defensive analyst in 2018.

A Helena, Montana native, Bignell was a two-time All-Big Sky linebacker at Montana State. Upon graduation, he coached Montana Western’s linebackers in 2012 before joining his alma mater as a graduate assistant the following season; he then spent 2013 and 2014 in the same role at Northwestern.

UNM’s on-field coaching staff

• Head coach: Jason Eck
• Offensive coordinator: Luke Schleusner
• Defensive coordinator: Spence Nowinsky
• Associate head coach/
• special teams coordinator: Daniel Da Prato
• Offensive line: Cody Booth
• Defensive line: Hebron Fangupo
• Running backs: John Johnson
• Wide receivers: Colin Lockett
• Tight ends: Jared Elliott
• Defensive backs/passing game coordinator: Stanley Franks Jr.
• Safeties: Clay Bignell

Recruiting news

A pair of three-star prospects are headed for Albuquerque.

Three-star recruits Jaymar Tasi and defensive end Cody Thumlert committed to UNM this week, representing the latest batch of prep prospects to pledge to the Lobos under Eck.

Both previously signed with Idaho — Eck’s former school — in December.

A 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle, Tasi made 42 total tackles as a senior at Roosevelt (Washington) High School last season. Per 24/7 Sports, he held offers from Montana State, Nevada and Oregon State before choosing UNM.

Thumlert, a 6-3, 220-pound defensive end, also held an offer from Montana State.