bleedCrimson.net interviewed new Aggie football head coach DeWayne Walker on Tuesday evening. Coach Walker comes to New Mexico State from UCLA after three seasons as the defensive coordinator. Coach Walker becomes the 33rd coach in NMSU football history.

bleedCrimson.net: You were a finalist for the San Diego State job and you were up for the job at UCLA last season, what attracted to the New Mexico State job?
DeWayne Walker: Just the opportunity. There's only a few of these jobs and I'm just thankful and grateful that New Mexico State thought that much about me.

bc.net: Obviously there a great lack of minority head coaches in Division I. What does it mean to you to be able to add to those numbers?
DW: It's an honor. You know you try to stay away from the color but it is what it is. So hopefully we can do a good job to create other opportunities for other minorities.

bc.net: What are your first priorities now that you're the head coach?
DW: Getting a staff together and recruiting. You want to get that going and then when once the players are back on campus I definitely want to be able to get the team together and share my vision and explain to them what type of culture we're trying to create here.

bc.net: Have you had a chance to meet with any of the coaching staff that's here?
DW: The only one is Earnest Wilson, Earnest is the only one I've had a chance to talk with. But at some point I'll get a chance to talk with a few others.

bc.net: You are well known for your defenses, what do you hope to bring to that side of the ball?
DW: You want to bring toughness and you've got to be able to be aggressive and tackle and play fundamental football. We're just gonna start from the ground up, basic fundamentals and see where we are come September.

bc.net: And on the offensive side of the ball what's your philosophy?
DW: Timm Rosenbach is going to be our offensive coordinator and Timm and I used to battle when he was at Washington State. He's a heck of a play caller so I know we're probably going to be based out of a single back, three wide receivers, two wide receiver looks. The one thing about Timm is he's tough. He's a tough quarterback, we've gotta be able to run the ball. He's an ex-big time quarterback so he knows how to throw the ball too. We hope to have a pretty balanced offense.

bc.net: You're also very well known for recruiting, what type of players will you be looking for to fill your system?
DW: The best players. We want good players. I don't think you have to have five star players to have a winning program. We just want to have solid players, good character, integrity and guys that want to be a part of a team and not try to be the individual.

bc.net: You've obviously been a part of some teams with great tradition. What traditions do you hope to build here at New Mexico State?
DW: WINNING. You'd like to be the best football team in the state of New Mexico and that's something that we'll stress with our players and our staff. I'm real sensitive about giving the fans what they want. We just want to be able to get guys in the stands and just to play solid, entertaining football.

bc.net: What will your schedule be from now until the start of spring ball?
DW: Try to get the staff hired, I'll go home probably tomorrow [Wednesday] afternoon and pack some things up and spend a couple of days with the family and try to get back on Sunday and have most of the staff hopefully hired by Tuesday and really get on that recruiting board and see what players we can go after. At the same time, try to evaluate this football team and get these guys going in the weight room. So there's quite a bit of work to get done.

bc.net: You've been under the tutelage of some very good coaches. What have they taught you that you think will help you out in your first head coaching job?
DW: No shortcuts. You've gotta do things right. Bottom line is to give these kids a chance and give them a chance by doing things the right way. Again, I'm looking forward to talking with the team and sharing my vision and just try to get these guys to believe that they're not losers. Losing record but not a losing program.

bc.net: Describe what you want your stamp to be on the program?
DW: To be the coach that came in and established a winning program. I think that's very important to this community, this university and that's why I'm here. I want to bring winning back.