Walden, 34, leaves Austin Peay to take UTEP job

EL PASO, Texas– UTEP employed coach Scotty Walden away from Austin Peay on Monday, hoping the 34-year-old Texan’s return to his home state can restore the Miners’ moribund program.Walden led Austin Peay to the FCS team’s very first unbeaten conference record this season with a 9-3 total record and a 6-0 mark in the United Athletic Conference.The Governors were No. 10 in the NCAA’s FCS coaches poll however lost to Chattanooga 24-21 in the preliminary of the FCS playoffs.UTEP fired Dana Dimel after his 5th losing season in 6 years.The Miners won more than three games just two times under Dimel, but the history of losing goes well beyond his tenure.

In the past 50 years, UTEP has 7 winning seasons and has lost at least 10 games 20 times.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Walden was 26-14 in four gaining seasons with Austin Peay, starting with the spring season in early 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the 2020 season.The Governors’win overall increased in

each of Walden’s four seasons.”He is one of the most innovative and energetic young coaches in the nation,” UTEP athletic director Jim Senter said.

“His teams are defined by hectic and high-scoring offenses and opportunistic defenses.” Walden was the interim replacement for Jay Hopson at Southern Miss one game into the pandemic-altered 2020 season, then resigned after four games to take the Austin Peay task and prepare for the unusual spring season.His head coaching career began in 2016 at Department III East Texas Baptist, where he was the offensive planner for 3 years before getting promoted. Walden likewise was an assistant at his university, Sul Ross State.