New Mexico, Davie to part ways after 8 seasons
New Mexico coach Bob Davie will not return as the Lobos’ football coach in 2020, the school announced Monday.
Davie, who is 35-63 since taking over in November 2011, will coach the Lobos (2-9, 0-7 Mountain West) in the regular-season finale against Utah State on Saturday
“In stepping aside, I’m proud of what we accomplished at UNM, but we are all disappointed that we have not been able to sustain the success that we achieved and all desire,” Davie said in a statement. “My family and I will be forever grateful to UNM for giving me the opportunity to coach again.”
His eight-season tenure is tied for the second-longest in program history. Davie was hired at New Mexico after spending 10 years at ESPN, which followed a five-year run as the head coach at Notre Dame (1997-2001), where he went 35-25.
“After meeting with Coach Davie this morning, we both agree that the time has come for a new direction for our football program,” New Mexico athletic director Eddie Nuñez said in a statement. “I’m appreciative of the work that Coach Davie has done at UNM.”
Davie’s best season at New Mexico came in 2016, when the Lobos won nine games and the New Mexico Bowl. That 23-20 win against UTSA is one of the program’s two bowl wins since 1961. The other came in 2007 under current San Diego State coach Rocky Long.
Since 2016, New Mexico has gone just 2-21 in Mountain West play.
Davie was hospitalized with a serious medical condition following his team’s season-opening win against Sam Houston State on Aug. 31. He missed the next two games, including a win against New Mexico State, before returning for the Lobos’ game at Liberty on Sept. 28.
New Mexico is the fifth FBS program to make a head-coaching change this year, joining Rutgers, Florida State, Arkansas and UNLV.