New Mexico coaching candidates: Where do the Lobos turn?

The Danny Gonzales era is over after four seasons. What's next for the Lobos?

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Danny Gonzales is out at New Mexico after an 11-32 record across four years.

This is a hard job. And it is the third Mountain West Conference job to open, behind Boise State and San Diego State.

Does seeing a place like New Mexico State succeed the way it has under Jerry Kill — who has won 17 games across the past two years, including 10 this year — make a former head coach more attractive than an up-and-coming candidate?

Let’s take a look at some résumés and find out.

Brent Vigen, Montana State. Vigen has the Bobcats at 32-7 across three years, with a playoff game against North Dakota State next week. He worked at Wyoming for seven years before Montana State, so he has MWC experience. And he spent more than 30 years at NDSU as a player or coach, so he knows winning football when he sees it. At a school like New Mexico, sometimes it really is that simple: hire a coach who gets the most out of his players, not a recruiter or someone who is trying to re-invent the wheel with a new concept.