ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lobo football coach Bronco Mendenhall is leaving UNM and taking the head coaching job at Utah State, the two universities confirmed Friday.

Utah State named Mendenhall as its new head football coach in a press release issued Friday morning.

Fernando Lovo, the new athletic director at UNM, subsequently issued a statement confirming Mendenhall informed him of his decision Thursday night before the official announcement. Lovo said it comes after extensive discussions to get him to stay.

“For several weeks, President Stokes, the athletic administration and then I have engaged with Bronco and his representatives in discussions and presented him with an aggressive offer to significantly invest even more in our football program, our coaching staff and in Bronco,” Lovo said in the statement. “We thank him for his one year of service to the University of New Mexico.”

Lovo said they had laid the groundwork to begin looking for a new head coach, in anticipation of Mendenhall moving on.

“Our search for a new head coach is already underway, and there is already significant interest from elite coaches who want to be a part of the Lobo Family,” Lovo stated. (The full statement from Lovo is at the bottom of this article)¹

On Thursday, Mendenhall was in Utah to interview for the Utah State head football coaching job. Sources told KOB 4 he was going to meet with the UNM players Friday morning.

Mendenhall has major connections to Utah. He coached Brigham Young University’s football team for a decade before leaving for the University of Virginia. 

Mendenhall helped get the Lobos to a 5-7 record this season. One of the five wins was the Lobos’ first win against a ranked team in over 20 years.

Entering the final game of the year, the Lobos were in position to be bowl-eligible for the first time in 2016. They ultimately fell short, falling to Hawaii in a 38-30 duel.

Utah news outlets reported Mendenhall and BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill were the top two candidates. 

Mendenhall signed a five-year, $6 million contract with UNM last year.

Here’s what he said this past Tuesday when asked if Utah State had reached out to him:

“I have only been speculated to be contacted by them. I have not been approached or interviewed.”

Mendenhall will reportedly owe UNM $2 million. Utah State would more than likely pay that buyout for him.

Lobo football shake-up

Mendenhall isn’t the only member of the Lobo football team who is on the move.

Offensive coordinator Jason Beck is departing UNM to become the offensive coordinator for the University of Utah.

Not long after Mendenhall’s move was made official, wide receiver Luke Wysong and running back Eli Sanders confirmed they would enter the transfer portal.

Devon Dampier, the quarterback who earned all-Mountain West Conference honors this season, confirmed Thursday he would enter the transfer portal.

Lobo long snapper Brendan Durkin entered the portal on the same day as Dampier.

Offensive lineman Tavien Ford and tight end Magnus Geers also confirmed they would enter the portal this week. Ford confirmed his move Tuesday while Geers confirmed his move Wednesday.

In all, six Lobo football players entered the transfer portal this week, in addition to the two coaching staff departures.