ENMU names Lee new football coach

PORTALES — About 48 hours after former Eastern New Mexico head football coach Josh Lynn stepped down, the university announced Thursday that offensive coordinator Kelley Lee will be stepping in as the program’s 16th head coach.

“Kelley has been instrumental in the rise of Eastern football success for the past several years,” ENMU Athletic Director Greg Waggoner said. “Kelley comes from a lineage of football coaches in the state of New Mexico, and is very respected and networked in the New Mexico high school football coaching scene.”

Lee, the team’s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator since 2012, was the logical choice as the successor, having masterminded the Greyhounds’ triple-option offense.

The transition should be seamless, he said.

“I think (the triple option) definitely becomes part of your identity because it is unique, but also because of the toughness it breeds,” Lee said. “(Our) defensive players ... are outstanding defending the run, because they practice against a great run offense.

“We are a tough, physical team and I think it is our scheme on offense, but also our program has that blue-collar attitude and toughness.”

Lee will continue to oversee the offense and coach the quarterbacks, in addition to his new duties at the helm of the program.

Lee and Waggoner said they thought that moving forward quickly was in the best interest of the program.

“I’ve had some real good conversations with Dr. W (Waggoner) and we went through the program from A-to-Z and at that point he felt like my vision was aligned with what he was looking for,” Lee said.

“We had some follow-up conversations after that, and I was offered the job shortly after that.”

Waggoner said the decision was not made on impulse.

“Any time you’re in a (position) like that, especially with me being new and coming in, it’s a big decision for an institution and an athletic director, so you have to think through your options,” he said. “It quickly became clear ... this was the guy to take us to the next level. He has been a huge part of why Eastern’s football is where it is. His offense and its statistics speak for itself.”

The Greyhounds tied for the Lone Star Conference title in 2013 and saw postseason action each of the past two seasons in the C.H.A.M.PS Heart of Texas Bowl in Copperas Cove, Texas.