Howes, Ridenour look for work; former prep stars optimistic

ALBUQUERQUE — Bronco Mendenhall, a 17-year veteran head coach who has twice turned around struggling programs, was named the 33rd head football coach last week at the University of New Mexico.

The announcement was made by Vice President/Director of Athletics Eddie Nuñez.

Mendenhall is no stranger to Albuquerque or UNM, having served as defensive coordinator and associate head coach for the Lobos under Rocky Long from 1998-2002.

He replaces Danny Gonzales, who had an 11-32 record as the head coach from 2020-23.

Mendenhall said he’ll remove all of Gonzales’s assistants, which includes two former high school football coaches in the City of Vision, David Howes (Rio Rancho) and Heath Ridenour (Cleveland).

Neither is sure what’s next for him.

“Options are limited, but so is time,” said Howes. “(I’m) weighing all options and looking forward. I still have a family to feed, (with) two kids in college and my mom is here locally and up in years.”

As for Ridenour, all he said was, “(I’)) let you know when I know.”

Two Gatorade Player of the Year honorees on the Lobo roster, among more than a dozen former CHS and RRHS players also on the 2023 roster, plan to stay around.

• Isaiah Chavez, an RRHS graduate in 2020 and the 2019 Gatorade POY, told the Observer, “I don’t got to worry about nothing but getting healthy first,” and planned to meet Mendenhall this week.
• Dorian Lewis, the Gatorade POY in 2018 and a 2019 graduate of CHS, who had his 2023 season cut short by injury, said he wants to be in the running back mix again.

“Working hard has never been a problem with me. I love the competition – it brings out the best in players, especially me.

“Nothing is ever going to be easy, but rehab is going well – slow, but every day is a step closer to where I need to be. I couldn’t do it without the training staff here at UNM.”

Mendenhall, 57, served as the head coach at former Mountain West rival BYU for 11 years and at Virginia for six, both times inheriting programs that were coming off a string of losing seasons and turning both into consistent winners.

“After 25 years, (my wife) Holly and I are excited to be returning to Albuquerque where we have many fond memories,” said Mendenhall. “We welcome the challenge and opportunity of building a program of excellence. We are excited to get to know the players, assemble a world-class group of people, immerse ourselves in the community and truly make a difference at UNM.”

He came to Albuquerque to serve as Rocky Long’s first defensive coordinator, coaching five seasons from 1998-2002. UNM’s defense excelled under Mendenhall, earning a quick reputation as a hard-nosed, hard-hitting unit led by safety Brian Urlacher, whom Mendenhall served as position coach for two seasons.