The New Mexico Lobos have taken their time filling out their coaching staff. They hired Bob Davie to be their head coach on Nov. 16 and now two months later hired their defensive coordinator who is former Illinois linebacker coach Ron West. The hiring is not official but according to Louisiana high school defensive tackle Gerron Borne who is taking a visit on Jan. 27 he mentioned West's name in an interview with Scout.com's Mike Coppage.
This is an extremely good hire for New Mexico as West was the linebackers coach at Illinois for the past two seasons and was part of a Illinois defense that ranked top-10 in total defense, passing yards, yards per play and No. 27 in rush defense. West has been a college coach for over 30 years but has only been a defensive coordinator from 1986-92 Louisiana-Lafayette and a co-defensive coordinator at Tulsa in 2009. At Tulsa, the defense was average in Conference USA but was No. 84 in the nation in total defense, and only ranked slightly higher at yards allowed per play at No. 71. So, the hope is that being part of a dominant Illinois defense will translate to success as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico.
Getting the defense shored up has to be easier than improving a terrible offense, at least that is my thinking. Looking at his recent sting at Illinois this looks to be a good higher for New Mexico.
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