In the first wholesale staff changes of his three years in El Paso, UTEP football coach Sean Kugler went with experience to fill three of the four open positions, hiring men with a combined 79 years of collegiate tenure.
The other opening, defensive coordinator, is still unfilled. UTEP's backup choice, Kan Flajole, took an NFL job after a press release announcing his hiring was issued at 1:05 p.m. Thursday, and with him on campus waiting for a 2 p.m. press conference. Shortly before that press conference a corrected release was issued without his name.
"He's a dear friend, somebody I respect, he had an opportunity to fulfill his NFL retirement and I'm not going to be the one to stand in anybody's way," Kugler said of Flajole, who has 16 years of NFL experience.