The long wait is finally over, UTEP finally has a head coach.
Dana Dimel, the former offensive coordinator, running backs coach and tight ends coach at Kansas State, has been hired as the 26th head coach in UTEP football history.
He has been the head coach at the University of Wyoming and the University of Houston. He will start at UTEP following his completion of coaching responsibilities with Kansas State in the Cactus Bowl on Dec. 26.
“We welcome coach Dimel, his wife Julie, son Winston and daughter Josey to El Paso,” UTEP President Diana Natalicio said in a press release. “We look forward to an exciting new era of UTEP Football under his leadership. His prior experience as a head coach at Wyoming and Houston and as offensive coordinator in the turnaround at Kansas State make him a great fit for UTEP and the El Paso community at this time.”
“We are very pleased to find a coach with the talent, expertise and experience of Dana Dimel,” Director of Athletics Jim Senter said. “He has strong ties to the state of Texas. He will immediately impact recruiting in the state of Texas and he is a proven winner.”
Dimel’s 60 wins makes him the most wins of any active offensive coordinator in college football since 2011. He has been with the Wildcats for eight-straight bowl appearances. His offense is prided on its efficiency on third down and in the red zone.
“I’m greatly looking forward to the opportunity at UTEP to build a program utilizing a ‘1-0’ concept,” Dimel said. “I would like to thank President Natalicio and Jim Senter for the opportunity. We will work diligently to elevate UTEP football to the highest level in Conference USA. Having been a part of a major turnaround at Kansas State and having the success we did at Wyoming, I’m just really excited about the leadership challenge that’s ahead.”
His offense at Kansas State led the nation in scoring efficiency and broke the program’s record for passing yards (3,736) and completion percentage (65.3).
During the 2017 season, UTEP finished as the nation’s worst offense, averaging just 214 yards per game. They were also among the nation’s worst in scoring, passing yards, rushing yards and third down efficiency.
Dimel will be introduced to the media on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m.
