Mystery will continue to envelop UNM football's coaching vacancy until the position is filled, according to Athletics Director Paul Krebs.
"I will not, throughout the course of this process, be commenting on candidates," Krebs said. "To comment on one means I really feel compelled to on all (of them). Obviously, you're all going to do your homework and try to guess where we're headed, but we won't be commenting on any candidates until we're announcing our head coach."
For now, UNM defensive back coach Danny Gonzales, who just completed his third season as a full-time member of the Lobos' coaching staff, will be interim head coach.
Krebs said Gonzales will be crucial in keeping up with recruitment in the wake of Long's resignation. Gonzales will assume all administrative duties on the team. However, Gonzales is not a candidate for the head coach position.
Gonzales said that will not distract him from his obligation to the University.
"The loyalty to this place that I have (will help me) make sure I do a good job of coaching," he said.
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Krebs didn't set a hiring date but said he is optimistic UNM will have a head coach in place by holiday break, which gives the Lobos a month to search.
"There isn't a specific timeline," Krebs said. "I think the goal is to get somebody in here as soon as we possibly can. You do not want to lose a recruiting class. We'll move with urgency, but we won't make any hasty decisions."
Krebs has plenty of experience hiring new coaches.
Since taking over athletics in March 2006, he has hired eight coaches, notably acquiring former Indiana All-American Steve Alford in March 2007 to coach the men's basketball team.
Krebs was responsible for giving current Florida Gators' head coach Urban Meyer his first head-coaching opportunity at Bowling Green in 2001. Meyer engineered a big turnaround in his first year, guiding the Falcons to an 8-3 record and garnering the MAC's Coach of the Year award.
During a news conference Tuesday, Krebs was asked whether the University would pursue a "sexy" pick.
"Guess it depends on your definition of 'sexy,'" he said. "When I hired Urban Meyer, we were criticized for the hire. 'Who did you hire? This no-name?' (He) had never been anything more than a position coach, but from day one, he was in every fraternity and sorority house selling the program. If there were two people on a street corner, he would meet with them and sell the program."
Krebs said the Lobos need a similar coach and outlined the characteristics he will look for.
"... No. 1, we need somebody who is a very strong recruiter. There are good high school football players in this state, but there is not enough in terms of quantity. Secondly, to help put people in seats and to help sell tickets and to create excitement in the community, we have to run an exciting offense. Offense sells tickets.
Krebs said he wants his coach to be an active participant in marketing the program. He also said the coach will need to have strong leadership skills.
"(As a head coach) you're a CEO," Krebs said. "You're responsible for 100 to 115 men in a program. You have media demands, budgets; you have to have administrative skills. There is so many pieces that go into being a successful head coach that the next coach has to have very strong leadership abilities."
In regard to Long's situation, Krebs said UNM owes Long a one-year base salary of $240,000, which will be raised through private donations.
"There will be no state money, no University money, no Athletics Department operating dollars going to (pay Long's salary)," he said.
Krebs assured Lobo fans that the University will be able to attract a high-quality coach, despite questions about what UNM will be able to pay.
"I think that if we put a package together that's comparable to what Long was making - also based on the experiences of the candidates we're talking to - we will be able to attract highly confident, in-demand coaches," he said.
Still, there are concerns whether Krebs' hire might use UNM as a stepping stone, much as Meyer did with Bowling Green. But Krebs said he doesn't see a problem with a coach coming in for three to four years, turning a program around and then leaving.
"It's not a marriage," he said. "We're not bringing in somebody in here for life."
