ALBUQUERQUE — Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was hired Monday as New Mexico’s coach, becoming the fourth black head coach at a major school.
Locksley replaces Rocky Long, who resigned last month after 11 seasons in New Mexico. The Lobos finished 4-8 overall, 2-6 in the Mountain West Conference.
Only four of 119 schools in the Bowl Subdivision have black head coaches. Turner Gill is in his third season at Mid-American Conference champion Buffalo, Miami’s Randy Shannon is in his second season and Houston’s Kevin Sumlin is in his first. All are taking their teams to bowl games.
McCoy to return to Texas
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas quarterback Colt McCoy confirmed he will return to the Longhorns for his senior season in 2009.
McCoy has led No. 3 Texas to a Fiesta Bowl matchup against Ohio State with 3,445 yards passing and 32 touchdowns, both team records. He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 576 yards and is expected to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
“I’m not going anywhere,” McCoy said.
Footnotes.
Former Wyoming coach Vic Koenning was named co-assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Kansas State, his alma mater.
• Oklahoma State junior receiver Jeremy Broadway, a former starter, was kicked off the team for breaking undisclosed rules.
• Central Florida running back Brandon Davis, who collapsed during training last week, is improving and could be released from the hospital as early as today, his father said.
• Former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer will be a special assistant to university president John Petersen from Dec. 1-Feb. 28.
• University of Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt confirmed Auburn contacted him “in the last couple of days” about its interest in offensive coordinator Patrick Nix as a candidate for head coach.
Denver Post wire services
