ALBUQUERQUE — Mike Locksley will return next season as New Mexico’s head coach.

Athletic director Paul Krebs made the announcement Thursday, saying he’s not happy after two straight 1-11 seasons but that scholarship reductions resulting from NCAA sanctions, a rash of injuries and a demanding schedule have established mitigating factors.

“All those things sound like excuses and perhaps to some degree they are,” Krebs said. “But you combine a young team with limited scholarships, injuries, a first-time head coach, and we have struggled mightily.”

Locksley has been at the center of speculation by fans and reporters in recent weeks over whether he would be back to coach a third season in Albuquerque.

He said such talk is just part of college sports, whether it’s wondering if a struggling coach gets fired or a winning coach jumps to another job.

“That’s the nature of the beast,” Locksley said. “I’m not surprised, but it’s good to know that our administration understands this speculation can be detrimental to moving the program forward. At this point, to be able to come out and end it, that’s definitely helpful.”

In an unusual step, Krebs directed publicists to issuea news release saying, essentially, that nothing had changed with New Mexico’s football program.

He said he felt the action was necessary so recruits know there is a measure of stability but he also made it clear the 2011 season will be critical to Locksley’s future.

“I need to be clear: 1-11 two years in a row is not acceptable. It has to get better. I believe it will get better,” Krebs said.

Locksley was hired in December 2008 after four seasons as Illinois’ offensive coordinator.

Had he been fired, a buyout would have cost the university almost $1.5 million but Krebs said that was never a consideration.

Locksley took over for Rocky Long, who resigned after reaching five bowl games in 11 years.

The new head coach inherited scholarship and recruiting restrictions imposed after NCAA investigators found two assistants under Long broke rules in an eleborate academic fraud scandal.

Long was never accused of wrongdoing and is now San Diego State’s defensive coordinator.

Locksley has never used the NCAA sanctions as an excuse, despite being able to offer only 20 scholarships instead of the usual 25 over the past two years.
That figure improves to21 scholarships for next season and returns to 25 in 2012.

“We’ve navigated Lobo football through one of the toughest stretches with these sanctions,” Locksley said. “There will never be an excuse. Did they make it tough? Definitely, but I knew that when I came in. That was the hand I was dealt.”

Krebs said despite New Mexico’s struggles he remains optimistic and said Locksley needs more time.

Krebs noted the Lobos have 16 starters returning next season and 29 of the 44 players on the team’s two-deep roster were freshmen or sophomores last season.

Meanwhile, Locksley suggested changes are coming but offered no specifics.

He said he is evaluating his coaching staff and players and said he remains prepared “to make whatever changes are necessary to move forward.”

The Lobos are one of the nation’s worst teams, ranking last among 120 teams in total offense (265.6 yards per game) and 115th in scoring offense (15.83 points).

New Mexico is 119th in total defense (469 yards) and last in scoring defense (44.33). The Lobos rank among the bottom 20 in several NCAA statistical categories.

Locksley made news early in his New Mexico tenure because of a sexual harassment lawsuit by a former administrative assistant and an altercation with a former assistant coach, leading Krebs to order a 10-day suspension for Locksley.

Last week before the TCU game, Locksley suspended three players after they were involved in a bar fight.

Krebs said he always tries to wait three or four years before evaluating the long-term job performance of any coach he hires.

In that context, he maintained there was nothing extraordinary about his recent discussions with Locksley.

“It was normal in the sense that you sit down, review and talk,” Krebs said. “What made this more intense was the combination of off-field issues surrounding the coach and our lack of success. Mike and I believe we can get this thing turned around. Next year will be a critical year.”



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