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UNM Football: Toledo gives Long list of candidates for offensive coordinator

By Iliana Limón
Thursday, December 14, 2006

The University of New Mexico coaching staff may add some UCLA flavor.

Bob Toledo, the Lobos' offensive coordinator and new Tulane head coach, said he gave UNM coach Rocky Long a list of potential replacements. The names include several coaches Toledo worked with at UCLA and a few members of the current UNM staff he thought could run the same offense next season.

"Obviously it's Rocky's choice and he'll make the decision that is best for the program, but I think I gave him some good names to work with," Toledo said. "There's a lot of talent coming back, and I think it makes sense for the new coach to either already know the system or be willing to learn it instead of teaching something new to 40 players."

Redshirt freshman quarterback Donovan Porterie said Long eased the nerves of returning players by assuring them the new offensive coordinator would not change the offense.

"He told us he was looking at some guys coach Toledo was working with at UCLA," Porterie said. "Of course, it's tough to see coach Toledo go, but we're proud of him and happy we'll be keeping his offense. It's like a part of him will still be here."

Long may be comfortable with several of the coaches Toledo recommended because he was Toledo's defensive coordinator at UCLA from 1996-97.

Toledo and Long have declined to name any candidates, but here's a look at offensive coaches who worked with Toledo at UCLA and UNM:

Kelly Skipper was running backs coach from 1998-2002 and offensive coordinator from 2001-02 under Toledo at UCLA.

He is the running backs and special teams coach at Washington State, a job he has held since 2003.

Before working at UCLA, Skipper coached from 1989-97.

Ron Caragher was the wide receivers and kickers coach at UCLA from 1994-2002, working with both Long and Toledo.

He is now the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Kentucky, a job he has held since 2002.

Mark Weber was the offensive line coach at UCLA from 1997-2003 under Toledo.

He spent this season as offensive line coach at North Carolina but was not retained when Butch Davis took over this month as the new Tar Heels head coach.

Weber previously was an offensive line coach at Fresno State, Oregon State and UNLV. He is a Los Angeles native who also worked at Eastern New Mexico from 1983-84.

Al Borges was offensive coordinator at UCLA from 1996-2000 under Toledo.

He is the offensive coordinator at Auburn, where he has worked since 2004. Before leading the Auburn offense, Borges spent one year at California and two years at Indiana.

Steve Marshall was an offensive line coach at UCLA in 1996 under Toledo.

He was an offensive line coach with the NFL's Houston Texans last season but was fired and has not picked up another coaching job.

Marshall was offensive coordinator at Texas A&M and North Carolina after leaving UCLA and has experience as an offensive line coach at Tennessee and Colorado.

John Pearce was quarterbacks coach at UCLA from 1999-2002.

He coached at Texas A&M after leaving UCLA, then retired. He came out of retirement at 59 and spent a few months earlier this year as the top assistant coach at Rice before retiring again.

He previously was the head coach at Stephen F. Austin and at five Texas high schools.

Gary Bernardi was the tight ends coach from at UCLA from 1993-2003, working with both Toledo and Long.

He is now the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at UNLV, where he has worked for two seasons.

Bernardi was at Arizona from 1980-86 and USC from 1987-92 before working at UCLA.

Dan Dodd, the Lobos current wide receiver coach and special teams coordinator, was UNM's offensive coordinator for five years before Toledo arrived. He previously was the Lobos' quarterbacks coach under former head coach Dennis Franchione, giving him nine years experience at UNM.

Cornell Jackson is in his second season as UNM's running backs coach. He also had a previous stint with the Lobos, coaching the linebackers in 1995.

Bob Stanley is in his first year as the Lobos' offensive line coach. He has 37 years of college coaching experience. Stanley has been an offensive line coach during his entire career, but also was offensive coordinator at Purdue from 1987-89.

Todd Throckmorton is in his first year coaching the Lobos' tight ends. He has 16 years coaching experience and was the head coach at Fort Lewis College from 2000-03.

Toledo's staff: Toledo said he is committed to coaching the Lobos through the bowl game, but he will squeeze in a few phone calls to recruits and assistant coaches at Tulane during his evenings.

Toledo said he interviewed Tulane coaches earlier this week and spoke with UNM coaches, but he hasn't figured out whom he will invite to join his staff.

"I think the coaches here are very good, but I won't be raiding the whole staff or anything like that," Toledo said. "It's tough to leave, but I feel like I made a difference here, and I'm leaving things in good shape."