LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) -- New Mexico State has dropped the interim tag from the title of coach Doug Martin.
Athletic director McKinley Boston said Friday that Martin was selected after a committee interviewed four candidates. Boston said he got the job because he wanted to return to Las Cruces and had "overwhelming support."
The 49-year-old Martin, who was offensive coordinator, was promoted to interim coach last week after DeWayne Walker stepped down to take a position as an assistant coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He recently returned to the program as O-coordinator after serving in the same position in 2011. He also was head coach at Kent State for seven seasons before his first stint with NMSU, going 29-53 in that time.
"Obviously, N.M. State is a place I firmly believe in, and that's the reason why I came back," Martin said after being named interim coach. "I feel there is unlimited potential for this football program and for Las Cruces as a city to take ownership of this team."
Martin's first task will be salvaging the Aggies' recruiting class with less than a week remaining before national signing day. Going forward, NMSU's uncertain status could also be an obstacle. The Aggies will be playing as an FBS independent next season because defections made the Western Athletic Conference give up on trying to field a football league in 2013.
NMSU didn't win more than four games in any of Walker's four years and hasn't been to a bowl game since 1960.
