Mike Price Position: Head Coach Alma Mater: Puget Sound 1969

The UTEP football program has enjoyed a resurgence under head coach Mike Price. The Miners have won 25 games over the last four years after posting three consecutive two-win seasons from 2001-03. The 25 victories are the most for UTEP in a four-year span in 40 years.

Under Price's direction UTEP has appeared in a pair of bowl games, earned national top-25 rankings in the month of November twice and had 36 All-Conference selections.

Price's young 2007 Miners finished 4-8, but were just eight points shy of being bowl-eligible as they dropped three games by a total of 11 points. Following a 4-2 start -- including a thrilling 48-47 win over eventual Conference USA Western Division champion Tulsa -- UTEP ended the season on a six-game losing streak. Four of the six losses came at the hands of teams that ended the year in bowls.

Other highlights from the 2007 campaign included UTEP knocking off New Mexico, which went on to post nine victories and shut out Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl. The Miners also set school records for total offense (5,074 yards) and kickoff return yards (1,327) while tying the school standard with five 40 point games. It was the most 40-point games for UTEP in 57 years.

The season was chock-full of individual achievements. Quintin Demps set an NCAA record by recording two 100-yard interception returns for touchdowns -- one at New Mexico State and another at UCF. Jose Martinez was UTEP's first-ever Lou Groza Award finalist. Jeff Moturi tied the school record by making a touchdown catch in 10 consecutive games. Marcus Thomas became only the fourth player in school history to score 100 points in a season, and established a school standard with five straight 100-yard rushing games. His 16 rushing touchdowns tied the most by a UTEP player since 1948. He also tied the school record for most 100-yard rushing games in a season with seven. Trevor Vittatoe set school freshman records for passing yards (3,101) and passing touchdowns (25).

At season's end, UTEP joined Southern Miss and UCF as the only schools with at least four first team All-Conference USA players. The Miners' first team selections were Demps, Martinez, Moturi and offensive lineman Oniel Cousins.

The Miners ranked 15th nationally in punt returns (13.6 avg.), 17th in turnover margin (0.75), tied for 20th in turnovers gained (29), tied for 21st in interceptions (18), 26th in passing offense (275.2 ypg) and scoring offense (33.6 ppg), 31st in passing efficiency (134.95) and 36th in total offense (422.8 ypg). Individually, Braxton Amy was tied for 41st nationally in tackles (9.3 avg.). Demps was 15th in punt returns (13.3 avg.) and tied for 28th in interceptions (0.4 avg.). Martinez was tied for 31st in field goals (1.4 avg.). Moturi was 47th in receiving yards per game (74.3). Thomas was ninth in scoring (9.8 ppg) and 26th in rushing (106 ypg). And Vittatoe was 32nd in passing efficiency (135.87) and 43rd in total offense (247.4 ypg).

The 2006 Miners were fifth in the nation in passing offense (312.8 ypg), 18th in passing efficiency (149.25), 38th in scoring offense (27.3 ppg) and 39th in total offense (370.4 ypg). Leading the aerial assault were Jordan Palmer and Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr., who concluded their careers as UTEP's all-time leading passer and receiver respectively.

Palmer ended his senior year rated sixth in the country in total offense (292.4 ypg) and 15th in passing efficiency (149.60). He compiled 88 touchdown passes and 11,084 yards passing during his Miner career. Palmer joined Higgins in the 2007 Under Armour Senior Bowl, where he was the leading passer for the South team.

Higgins became UTEP's first All-American in six years in 2006, earning distinction by both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Associated Press. He was second nationally in receiving yards (109.9 avg.) and third in all-purpose yards (156.1 avg.). Higgins was chosen the 2006 Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year after leading the circuit in punt returns (23.4 avg.).

With the electric Higgins leading the way, UTEP was second in the country in punt returns (20.0 avg.) in 2006.

UTEP led Conference USA by having five first team all-league selections in both the `06 media and coaches' voting. The media honorees were Higgins (as a wide receiver and punt returner), linebacker Troy Collavo, safety Quintin Demps and placekicker Reagan Schneider. The coaches' picks were Collavo, Demps, Higgins, Schneider and long snapper Aaron King.

In the first two seasons under Price, the Miners racked up 16 wins and appeared in back-to-back bowl games for the first time in 50 years, while earning rankings in both top-25 polls late in the season.

The 2005 Miners rated ninth nationally in passing offense (300.6 ypg), 31st in total offense (422.8 ypg), and 33rd in passing efficiency (136.82) and scoring offense (31.8 ppg). In its first year as a member of Conference USA, UTEP led the league in passing offense and ranked second in scoring offense.

Ten Miners earned all-conference accolades in both 2004 and 2005. In 2004, linebacker Robert Rodriguez was chosen the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Highlights from the 2005 season included UTEP setting a school record for consecutive home wins with nine. The Miners shattered school records for total home attendance (287,394) and average home attendance (47,899).

UTEP has posted 16 victories in the Sun Bowl under Price, while averaging over 42,000 fans in the 51,500-seat stadium.

The Miners set school season records for passing touchdowns (29) and first downs (270) in 2005. Palmer was 16th in the country in total offense (287.8 ypg) and 25th in passing efficiency (140.54).

Several other Miners rated among the nation's best at their respective positions in 2005. Linebacker Thomas Howard was appointed the preseason defensive player of the year in the state of Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine. He was chosen in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. Wide receiver Chris Francies was 46th in the NCAA in receiving yards per game (77.4). Linebacker Jeremy Jones was 14th in tackles (10.8 per game), and tied for 15th in forced fumbles (0.3 per game). Schneider was 21st in field goals per game (1.5) and tied for 36th in scoring (7.9 ppg), and Higgins was 43rd in punt returns (9.4 avg.).

In his first season with the Miners Price, the 1997 National Coach of the Year, engineered the nation's most amazing turnaround. UTEP posted an 8-4 record and earned a bid to the EV1.net Houston Bowl following three-consecutive two-win campaigns.

Price was a finalist for numerous national coach of the year awards in 2004, including the Eddie Robinson Award and Paul "Bear" Bryant Award. He was tabbed the Region 4 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), and was named the first-year coach of the year by Scripps and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Not only did Price enjoy a great deal of success in his initial year at UTEP, but he also put the Miner football program on the national map. Writers from the Albuquerque Journal, Arizona Republic, Dallas Morning News, Denver Post, ESPN The Magazine, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News and USA Today paid visits to the UTEP campus during the season. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit and a GameDay crew led by Tom Rinaldi also checked in with the Miners.

The achievements on the field were extraordinary. UTEP earned rankings in both national polls (Associated Press, ESPN/USA Today) for the first time in school history. UTEP's highest ranking was 23rd by the Associated Press on Nov. 14. The Miners were also listed in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings for the first time in 87 years of football. UTEP won seven straight games late in the season, tying the longest streak in school annals. The Miners also tied the school record for Western Athletic Conference road wins with three, including a 24-21 triumph at Fresno State on Oct. 9. It was the only home defeat of the season for Fresno State, a nine-game winner that beat Virginia in the MPC Computers Bowl. The Miners also routed Hawaii, another 2004 bowl participant, 51-20 in the Sun Bowl.

The Miners rated 11th in the country in scoring offense (35.8 points per game), 14th in net punting (38.6 average), 20th in punt returns (13.4 average), 22nd in passing efficiency defense (108.7 rating), 26th in passing efficiency (138.0 rating) and 29th in passing (251.3 yards per game) in 2004.

Individually, Bryce Benekos was seventh nationally in punting (44.1 average), DB Jahmal Fenner was 10th in punt returns (15.4 average), DB Adrian Ward was 16th in interceptions (0.4 average), RB Howard Jackson was 14th in all-purpose yardage (149.3 average) and 25th in rushing (98.9 yards per game), Schneider was 24th in scoring (8.1 points per game) and Palmer was 28th in passing efficiency (136.5 rating).

First-team All-WAC selections included Benekos, Jackson, Ward, DL Chris Mineo and LB Robert Rodriguez. Second-team honorees were Schneider, TE Jonas Crafts, WR Jayson Boyd, Higgins and Howard.

Rodriguez was tabbed the league defensive player of the year after leading the WAC in tackles for the third time in four seasons. Demps was named to the Scripps/FWAA Freshman All-America Team, and was a third team freshman All-American by The Sporting News.

The Miners also tied the school record with seven WAC Players of the Week during the season (four defense, two special teams, one offense).

UTEP fans immediately embraced Price and his high-flying Miners. UTEP's average home attendance more than doubled from 20,009 in 2003 to 41,209 in 2004.

Price was the head coach at Washington State University from 1989-2002. During his stint with the Cougars he compiled an 83-78 record, with three 10-win seasons and five bowl appearances. His last two teams at Washington State combined for a 20-5 record (13-3 in the Pac-10 Conference). Price's 2002 unit was the Pac-10 co-champion with a 7-1 mark, and met Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

Price was the head coach at Weber State from 1981-88, registering a 46-44 record. His career record is 154-145 in 26 years of coaching, with three conference titles.

The 2002 Cougars finished 10-3 under Price, including a 30-27 overtime victory over USC. Washington State ranked eighth nationally in rushing defense (87.2 ypg), 13th in passing offense (292.7 ypg), 16th in total offense (421.9 ypg) and 17th in scoring offense (33.2 ppg) at year's end. The Cougars were second in the Pac-10 in total offense, third in total defense (342.5 ypg), and rated among the national leaders in sacks with 55.

Quarterback Jason Gesser tallied a 146.44 passing efficiency rating, seventh-best in the country. He completed 236 of 402 passes for 3,408 yards with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The Cougar defense was anchored by defensive tackle Rien Long, winner of the Outland Trophy and a first team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. Long totaled 21.5 tackles for losses and 13 sacks in 2002.

Another standout for the Cougars was defensive back Jason David, who was second in the nation with 0.7 interceptions per game.

Washington State was 10-2 in 2001, tying for second place in the Pac-10. The Cougars beat Purdue 33-27 in the Sun Bowl in El Paso. Price was named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year for the third time, and was one of three finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. Nineteen Cougars earned All-Pac 10 recognition, and 14 were selected Academic All-Pac 10. Senior free safety Lamont Thompson was chosen a first team All-American by the Associated Press after rating second nationally in interceptions (0.73 per game).

Price's 2001 squad ranked 10th in the country in passing offense (300.9 ypg), 13th in scoring offense (35.2 ppg) and 17th in total offense (438.6 ypg).

The 1997 Cougars posted a 10-2 mark, the first 10-win season for Washington State in 68 years. Washington State tied for first place in the Pac-10 with a 7-1 record. Price was tabbed the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and The Sporting News Coach of the Year. The Cougars dropped a narrow 21-16 decision to eventual national champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Price guided Washington State to a 6-5 record in 1989, his first season at the helm of the program after taking over for Dennis Erickson. He was appointed the Pac-10 Coach of the Year by The Sporting News that year.

During his 14 years at Washington State, Price coached five players who were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft - running back Steve Broussard (20th pick by Atlanta in 1990), quarterback Drew Bledsoe (first pick by New England in 1993), linebacker Mark Fields (15th pick by New Orleans in 1995), quarterback Ryan Leaf (second pick by San Diego in 1998) and defensive back Marcus Trufant (11th pick by Seattle in 2003).

Price orchestrated four winning seasons at Weber State, including a 10-3 campaign in 1987. The Wildcats were Big Sky Conference co-champions that year, and reached the quarterfinals of the I-AA playoffs.

Weber State fashioned a 7-4 ledger in 1981, Price's first year as a collegiate head coach. The Wildcats lost to eventual I-AA champion Idaho State in triple overtime.

Price has had extensive experience coaching in postseason All-Star games. He was the head coach of the West team in the 2003 East-West Shrine Game. He was also the West head coach in the 1998 Hula Bowl. He was the associate head coach for the West team in the 1995 East-West Shrine Game, and the offensive head coach for the North team in the 1993 Kelly Tires Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic.

He previously was an assistant coach at Washington State (graduate assistant, 1969-70 and running backs, 1974-77), Missouri (quarterbacks and receivers, 1978-80) and Puget Sound (offensive coordinator, 1971-73). He coached in three bowl games as an assistant (1978 Liberty, 1979 Hall of Fame, 1980 Liberty).

Price played collegiately at Washington State (1965-66) and Puget Sound (1967-68), seeing time at quarterback and defensive back. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from the Puget Sound in 1969. He added a master's degree in physical education from Washington State in 1970.

A native of Everett, Wash., Price was an all-conference quarterback and three-year varsity letterwinner at Everett High School.

Price is married to the former Joyce Taylor. They have three children - Eric, Aaron and Angie -- all with football ties. Eric played football at Weber State and coached under his father at Washington State. Aaron played at Washington State for two years, and also assisted his father as the Cougars' quarterbacks and kickers coach. Aaron is co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/kickers coach at UTEP, and Eric is wide receivers coach for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. Angie graduated from Washington State in 1997, and is married to a high school athletic director.