Ahead of the upcoming season, UTEP men’s basketball head coach Joe Golding is making sure the team is ready for a comeback. After a season that didn’t go as planned with a young team last year, Golding and the Miners are coming back harder and stronger than before.
Golding’s time at UTEP has been marked by triumphs from the beginning. During his 2021-2022 season, he brought UTEP its first 20-win season (20-14) since 2015. Golding would then join the ranks of Don Haskins, Doc Sadler and Tim Floyd as he achieved a winning season in his first year with the orange and blue.
Despite early successes, Golding gets no rest, as he continues to work on his team, improving his squad for upcoming games, especially considering last year’s underwhelming 14-18 record.
“You look at last year, 14-18, that’s not what we came here to do,” Golding said. “And we got off to a great start year one. We won 20 games, we had a lot of excitement around town. We didn’t do our job last year, you go 14-18 and that’s not what UTEP basketball is about.”
Golding noted outside shooting and free throws as major issues that plagued last year’s team members, and he is working on these problems to make this season’s team better, for everyone.
“I think more than anything this team really has real relationships with each other,” Golding said. “They care about each other, they play well with each other, and I think that’s important in today’s college basketball. There’s so much turnover, whether it’s portal, and different things out there that we had enough guys coming back, and then our new guys they really bought in, and I think they’re playing for the name on the front of their chest.”
UTEP has quickly become home for Golding, who has not been back to his alma mater of Abilene Christian since he became head coach for UTEP. Golding is looking forward to the season as the Miners face off against Abilene Christian in an away game mid-December.
“There’s a lot of good memories, that place raised me from a boy to a man,” Golding said. “I spent about 18 years of my life on that campus, so there’s a lot of fond memories.”
Coming into the C-USA season, Golding has one goal, to compete.
“We just want to compete for championships,” Golding said. “We just trust the process and we try to get better each and every day, and if we do that, you look up in March and you’re competing for championships, and I think that’s where UTEP belongs.”
Golding puts in time and effort during the season to make sure the Miners are ready to play its best. When the Miners take a loss, Golding knows it’s not the time to relax. He looks ahead at upcoming matchups and what he can do better prepare his team.
However, Golding knows it’s important to take some time off for himself and his family, to relax during the offseason, so he’s charged up when the next season begins.
“I love the water, there’s not a lot of water out this way, but in the summer, I get away and find some water, but if I’m doing anything to relax or anything to get away, I’m with my family,” Golding said.
As a former student-athlete, Golding can relate to his players and understands the toll that it can take, and the rewards.
“Just like any college student, college goes in a hurry and the next thing you know you’re in the real world,” Golding said. “So, I just tell everybody in college to enjoy the experience, meet a ton of people, get involved in different groups.”
Golding wants student-athletes to take advantage of the opportunity and take their time if they are able, as he spent five years at Abilene Christian, getting his degree in exercise and sport science. With the season underway, the Miners will play its next game against the USAO Drovers Thursday, Nov. 9.
Nicholas Maes is a contributor and may be reached at [email protected]
