UTEP coaching candidates: Who can turn the Miners around?

UTEP is a tough job. But there are a few potential candidates out there who know the place and could save the day.

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UTEP fired Dana Dimel on Sunday after a 3-9 campaign. Dimel went 20-48 in six seasons, posting just one winning campaign at a job that has consistently been among the toughest in the country.

The Miners have posted just two winning seasons across the last 18 years, and they are in a tough spot geographically relative to the rest of their Texas FBS peers. But they have had quite a few players come through there who have gone on to standout coaching careers, so there could be some promising options on the horizon to lead this program out of the abyss.

Let’s take a look at them.

Jeff Grimes. The former UTEP offensive tackle was let go Sunday as Baylor’s OC after a 3-9 year, but it wasn’t that long ago that he was one of the hottest names on the market. Grimes can coach, as he has been a play-caller at BYU and Baylor across the past six years, which includes an 11-1 year with the Cougars in 2020 and a Big 12 title the following year with the Bears. Grimes was a career O-line coach before that and was on staff of the 2010 Auburn team that won the national title. Grimes is available, but he might not be for long. He should be the Miners’ first call.