The UNM head football coaching position is not only filled - it's a lock.
Mike Locksley accepted the head coaching position in front of fans and media in the SUB on Tuesday.
And the charismatic coach is winning over UNM students and fans already.
"He brings a new excitement because I think he is young and energetic," UNM student Jesse Hathoot said. "Maybe this new excitement will get people in the UNM area and community involved in the football program a little bit more."
UNM student Kevin Klein is animated about the new hire.
"Locksley seems like a really cool guy - excited for the job," he said. "Rocky was more defensive-minded, and this guy seems more offensive-minded. That is one difference between the two. Locksley seems really excited about the job, and it makes me excited to see what he can do."
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Locksley shares the same enthusiasm.
"This is a job I want, and it is now a job I have," he said. "I want to take Lobo nation nationally - much like our basketball program. I am going to feed off Steve Alford's success. But we are going to work to get the football program to a national level, and I look forward to doing that."
Athletics Director Paul Krebs said he looks forward to watching Locksley write a new chapter in Lobo history.
"The hire will help to sell football to the community," Krebs said. "This is not the end of the process; it is only the beginning of the process. We need all of you to get behind this coach, this football program, to show people what Lobo pride is about. We want to be a dominant team in the Mountain West Conference."
Locksley looks to implement a high-powered spread offense. The new offensive look might change the identity of the Lobo program, which had a strong defense for 10 years under Long.
Locksley has 11 years of coaching experience on offense. He was a receivers coach at Army in 1996 and a running backs coach at the University of Florida in 2003 before taking the offensive coordinator position with Illinois in 2005.
Still, Locksley understands how important defense is. He began his coaching career as a defensive back coach at Townson University before relocating to the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School to be the defensive coordinator in 1994.
"On defense, we are going to continue with a great foundation by attacking - out-hitting our opponents," Locksley said. "We are going to have a ton of people running toward that ball, hitting that ball carrier. We are going to stop the run and not allow big plays."
