As a graduate assistant for the University of New Mexico, Jake Rothschiller felt as if he were in limbo when then-coach Bob Davie was fired before the final week of the season in 2019.
A crossroads moment arose when, a month later, Danny Gonzales was hired as the head coach of the Lobos. Gonzales, a former player and assistant at UNM, met with the graduate assistants and challenged them during the Christmas break, to show if they wanted the opportunity to stay on as a GA.
A lot of times, a new head coach will bring in his choice of assistants, including graduate assistants.