Long steps down

For 11 seasons, head coach Rocky Long spearheaded UNM's football program.

But on Monday, in a room jam-packed with reporters, Long announced he would step down as the Lobos' head football coach.

"It's hard for me to leave," he said. "But it's the right thing to do for the program."

In August, Long was awarded a five-year contract extension that included a hike in pay from $439,000 to $750,000 per year. Under the contract, Long was set to stay on board through the 2013 season.

But Long said things started spiraling in the wrong direction. The Lobos finished the season at 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the Mountain West Conference. The eight losses in the 2008 campaign marked the most losses since 1998, when UNM finished 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Western Athletic Conference.

"I wanted it to be on top as a player. I wanted it to be on top as an assistant coach, and I wanted it to be on top as the head coach," Long said. "And I don't see it happening with me as the head coach."

Long leaves the program as the winningest head coach. He posted a 65-69 record during his 11-season tenure at UNM.

Long said he may pursue other coaching endeavors if the opportunity presents itself.

"I hope I'm coaching some place next year," he said. "I don't look too old, do I? Maybe some out there will think I can be a good defensive coordinator somewhere; maybe coach at the Division-III level or coach in high school."

Although Long guided the Lobos to five bowl appearances in seven years and their first bowl win against Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl since 1961, Long never won a conference championship in his time at UNM.

"Being OK is not good enough," he said. "I've been here long enough that we should have won a conference championship."

Long said he announced to his players about 30 minutes before Monday's news conference that he wouldn't return.

"I think the majority of them didn't know," he said. "I think they were shocked. They were very, very quiet."

Earlier in the week Long insinuated his departure, saying the Lobos needed a "miracle worker" to get over the hump. But on Monday, the normally even-keeled Long elaborated on what else the University needs to have a successful program - and it wasn't necessarily a better coach.

"I think we have some very loyal fans," he said. "But I don't think they're fanatical enough to get the program over the hump, no matter how good the coach is."

Long explained fan support is pivotal, especially in the MWC, where the Lobos face teams that have an advantage when it comes to recruiting players.

"You're talking about beating BYU, TCU and Utah all in the same year to win a conference championship," he said. "All of those schools have huge advantages for one reason or another, huge advantages in recruiting for one reason or another. I don't care who the coach is at New Mexico, (he) cannot compete with them in recruiting, except (if) there's something special that you can sell that's different than everybody else."

The motivator to the bitter end, Long said UNM fans are too fair-weather and that if the Lobos want to build a national powerhouse, fans are fundamental in working toward that goal.

"The community has to get behind a good football coach and fill up the damn stadium every single game, win or lose - jump in with both feet and make this place special if they want to get on top," he said. "If you want to compete with the big boys, you better start acting like a big-time program, and that's not just with the football team or the football coaches, that's the damn fans."

Athletics director Paul Krebs said UNM will address its coaching vacancy soon but that Monday night was not the appropriate time to discuss such matters.

"The issue today is to celebrate coach Long's accomplishments," he said. "We'll talk about where we go in the future (another day). That's a discussion for another time."

Krebs did say Long will have a role in the coaching selection process, however.

"We need to find someone who has the devotion that coach Long has had in running this program. He will have input in the process," he said.

President David Schmidly said he hasn't met a more upstanding coach than Long.

"I've been doing this awhile," he said. "I've dealt with a lot of coaches. I've never dealt with a man that has more class than Rocky Long."