Is Doug Martin better for NM State than DeWayne Walker?

As many now know, former New Mexico State coach DeWayne Walker has left his post as head coach of the New Mexico State Aggies. Walker did not set the world on fire going 10-40 in his 4 seasons there while having a dreadful 2012 season finishing 1-11.







New Mexico State Career Record: (10-40)

• 2012: 1-11
• 2011: 4-9
• 2010: 2-10
• 2009: 3-10

With New Mexico State not only swinging and missing with this hire but also seeing their head coach take off for greener pastures of assisting in the NFL, where do they go from there?

Walker leaves the New Mexico program 2 weeks before national signing day putting the Aggies in a bit of a bind with recruits. Two commits, 2-star wide receiver Jordan Bergstrom and 2-star defensive end Frazer Taua, were early enrollees and look to be solid members of the program after transferring from their respective JUCOs with 6 players committed but not yet signed.

Former offensive coordinator Doug Martin will take the helm for the Aggies and has head coaching experience, albeit poor, on the FBS level. Martin coached Kent State for 7 years winning 29 games and losing 53 games while finishing no better than 4th in the MAC East division during that time period.

"Obviously, N.M. State is a place I firmly believe in and thats's the reason why I came back," Martin said. " I feel there is unlimited potential for this football program and for Las Cruces as a city to take ownership of this team."

Martin brings a bit of stability to the program with his involvement in the 2011 season before heading to Boston College as the offensive coordinator. While officially only an interim, Martin will be using this 2013 season as a tryout for the coaching head coaching job. His first test is solidifying this recruiting class for the Aggies that only has those 8 total commits with 2 already on campus.


The remaining players committed to NMSU as of right now are:

• Rodney Butler LB 2 stars
• Brandon Hines LB 3 stars
• James Ooten ATH 2 stars
• Thomas Warren RB
• Marquette Washington 2 stars
• Tre Wilcoxen DB 2 stars

Right now according to Rivals.com, the Aggies have 32 players they have offered to that are still uncommitted:

• DB David Price Long Beach, California Poly 3 stars
• RB Dontel James Fontana, California Summit 3 stars
• DB Jordan Howard Ventura, California Ventura C.C. 2 stars
• WR Johnny Holton Glen Ellyn, Illinois College of DuPage
• WR Drew Wolitarsky Canyon Country, California Canyon 3 stars
• OL Coleman Shelton Los Angeles, California Loyola 3 stars
• TE Corey Manges Rowlett, Texas Rowlett 2 stars
• DB Dorian Crawford Walnut, California Mt. San Antonio C.C. 3 stars
• WR Markeith Ambles Yuma, Arizona Arizona Western C.C. 3 stars
• ATH Jarek Hilgers Phoenix, Arizona Desert Vista 2 stars
• OL Christian Orduno Walnut, California Mt. San Antonio C.C.
• DB Elijah Mitchell Corona, California Eleanor Roosevelt 2 stars
• OL Calvin Hoohuli Ventura, California Ventura C.C. 2 stars
• DB Pat Martin Yuma, Arizona Arizona Western C.C. 3 stars
• RB Kenneth Kidd New Berlin, New York Milford Academy 2 stars
• DB Darren Doston Visalia, California College of the Sequoias 3 stars
• DB Kendric Randolph Thatcher, Arizona Eastern Arizona J.C. 2 stars
• ATH Demarcus Ayers Lancaster, Texas Lancaster 3 stars
• OL Sean McDonald San Francisco, California City College of San Francisco 2 stars
• WR Ted Meline Yuma, Arizona Arizona Western C.C. 2 stars
• WR Patrick Brown Henderson, Texas Henderson 2 stars
• DE Herbert Monroe Ventura, California Ventura C.C. 2 stars
• WR Joshua Taylor Los Angeles, California Franklin 3 stars
• DB Treshon Broughton Tustin, California Vista Murrieta 3 stars
• LB Nick Akins Mesquite, Texas West Mesquite 2 stars
• OL Anthony Juarez Corona, California Centennial 2 stars
• LB Andre Thompson Mesquite, Texas West Mesquite 2 stars
• LB Money Peterson Dallas, Texas Wilmer-Hutchins 2 stars
• DB Charles Okonkwo Fontana, California Summit 3 stars
• DE Will Pretty Lancaster, California Paraclete
• LB Melvin Williams Perris, California Citrus Hill 2 stars 
• QB Cody Cordell Encino, California Crespi

It will be interesting to see how Martin handles getting this job for a team coming off of a 1-11 season, having no conference affiliation, a poor recruiting class, and a football team's uncertain future. If Martin can bring some of the magic from 2011 that had so many Aggies fans looking forward to 2012, he could put the team in a great spot for a possible move to the MWC or Conference USA.

I feel like Martin comes off more as someone who wants to coach New Mexico State and not run off if he is not successful. While he did leave the program for Boston College after 2011, it was a good move to increase his profile for a possible head coaching gig. I didn't have the feeling that Walker wanted to be in Las Cruces and with his poor 1-11 season in 2012 was actively trying to get out of college coaching. Walker's era will not be remembered very well but Martin has the chance to increase NMSU's national profile as well as try to get the Aggies into their first bowl game in over 50 years, a 20-13 win over Utah State in the 1960 Sun Bowl.