University of Texas at El Paso head football coach Mike Price will hang up his headset at the end of the season, he announced Monday. The Miners game against Rice University will be the last of Price's career and will complete his ninth season with the Miners (3-8).

"I am retiring from the game that I loved and respected all my life," said Price.

This was the final year of Price's contract, and he said it was time to retire from a more than 40-year career in football.

"All I ever wanted to be was a football coach. My whole life, I just wanted to coach football. It's been a great life. Boy, talk about lucky," said Price.

Among accomplishments, UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull credits Price with making the football team credible and thrusting it into the national spotlight.

"Instantly, we had credibility nationally. He was the national coach of the year. He went to the Rose Bowl in a place you can't get to the Rose Bowl from," said Stull.
Price said he told his coaching staff Sunday night and told the players about his plans Monday morning before the press conference.

Price is the second-winningest coach in UTEP history. He led UTEP to 8-4 records and two bowl appearances his first two years in El Paso, but hasn't had a winning record since.

"I didn't win enough, period. That is it. I didn't win enough games. In this profession, you have got to win games. We didn't do it," said Price.

Despite the defeats, the Price era at UTEP will likely go down as a win for the growing program. Over the course of nearly a decade, Price was able to change the perception of not only the football team but the university as a whole.

'"I think we have raised the expectation level and we have gotten national recognition, and that is good for the university and good for El Paso in general," said Price.
"Whether we won or lost, we were always competitive," said Stull. "He raised the bar of expectations. No longer is it 'try to win three games.' It's trying to win championships. He raised that bar."

By changing the way many view Miner athletics, it also changed the conversation among players, fans and arguably the most important audience: recruits.
"Do you want national recognition? Yes. Do you want to be on national television? Yes. Do you want to play in bowl games? Yes. Do you want to have winning seasons? Yes, it's possible," said Price.
"This is a great place to play college football," Price added.

Price said the program is in great shape for whoever succeeds him, financially and talent-wise. Price also said the other coaches and the support staff for the team are "awesome."

The football team has 14 recruits committed right now and a strong freshman class, many of whom red-shirted this season.

"I am 100 percent supportive of Andre Patterson to succeed me as the head coach," said Price.

Patterson is the current defensive coordinator He has experience coaching college football and in the NFL, coupled with a long career in the NFL.

Ultimately, it will be Stull's decision who will be the new head coach.

"He is the best in the business at hiring people. His only mistake was hiring me," Price laughed.

Stull said Patterson is also on his short list of possible candidates for the job.
As for retirement, Price said he is leaving the sidelines but not UTEP or the Sun City.
"This is our home, we are El Pasoans now," said Price. "It was the best thing that's ever happened to our family, coming here," Price added.
Price's son Aaron is the offensive coordinator for the Miners.
"I intend to support this program and this city in any way possible in the future," Price.

Stull and Price are close friends, and Stull said the school will benefit from Price's continued involvement.

"He brought warmth to this city. They love El Paso. They love UTEP," said Stull.
Price credited Joyce, his wife of 46 years: "She was with me as a player, and she raised two football players (sons Eric and Aaron). She supported me and now I'm going to spend more time with her. She is going to come first in my life."

Maybe one of the first things on Price's to-do list: cleaning out storage bins full of playbooks.
"I've still got my dad's playbooks from 1952," said Price. "It's memorized anyway. It's memorized in my mind and my son's too."
For some fans, it's hard to imagine Miner football without Price.
"He can't retire yet; maybe in another 15 years he can," said Junior Roy Brown.
It's loyal and supportive fans like Brown who have made all the difference.
"These fans appreciate and support UTEP and this town and have of me, forever," said Price.
Saturday will be Mike Price appreciation night, and nothing would make the veteran coach happier than a packed Sun Bowl.
"God, it would be great. It would be awesome," said Price.
Price, who started at Weber State in 1981, has a 177-182 career record. His career is notable for two Rose Bowl bids at Washington State, and he won the highly coveted and respected "Coach of the Year" award in 1997.
He is also no stranger to adversity. After leading Washington State to the Rose Bowl in 2002, Price was hired by Alabama.

That spring, he was fired before ever coaching a single game for the Crimson Tide, after admitting to drinking heavily and going to a topless bar after attending a golf tournament in Florida.
At the time, many critics said the decorated coach would never coach college football again.
But it was Stull and UTEP President Diana Natalicio who took the gamble and hired Price.
"She gave me a chance when no one else would take a chance on me," said Price.
A chance that arguably, paid off, because for many Price's contributions to UTEP are priceless.
"I wish I could coach here forever. I really do. I wish I could coach here forever," said Price.