Mike Price is retiring after the season. (Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE)
UTEP football coach Mike Price avoided the possibility of getting fired by announcing his retirement at a press conference on Monday.
Price, 66, will coach the Miners (3-8) in their final game of the season against Rice, then step down.
“I’m very thankful to President Natalicio for giving us this opportunity,” Price said, according to CollegeFootballTalk.com. “It has been the chance of a lifetime. I am very appreciative of the loyal support by Director of Athletics Bob Stull. I can’t thank him enough for his patience and support. This is my last year of coaching. It is great go out with this group of fine student-athletes and coaches. Although I didn’t go to school here, I’m a Miner. Joyce and I are proud to be El Pasoans.”
In nine seasons at UTEP, Price has won 48 games, second-most in school history. The Miners went 8-4 in each of Price’s first two seasons as head coach, but this will be their seventh straight losing season.
Price had his most success at Washington State, taking the Cougars to two Rose Bowls in his 14 years there.
However, he received more publicity for his brief stint as head coach at Alabama. He took the Alabama job in December 2002 but was fired the following May without ever coaching a game for the Crimson Tide because of an incident at a strip club.
