UTEP hires Purdue, Wash St aides as coordinators

Published Jan. 8, 2013 7:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

UTEP has hired former Purdue receivers coach Patrick Higgins as offensive coordinator and former Washington State and Boise State assistant Jeff Choate to run the defense.

Higgins was the interim head coach for the Boilermakers in their 58-14 loss to Oklahoma State in the Heart of Dallas Bowl after Danny Hope was fired. He spent two seasons with Purdue.

New Miners coach Sean Kugler is bringing Higgins back for a second stint in El Paso. Higgins, who will also be quarterbacks coach, was on the UTEP staff from 1998 to 2003.

Choate spent the 2012 season as linebackers coach at Washington State. He coached the previous six years at Boise State in various roles.

Kugler is replacing Mike Price, who retired after a 31-year career.