Hess Hired to End N.M. State Losing Streak

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Stephen F. Austin Athletic Director Jim Hess was named today as New Mexico State’s head football coach, taking over a program that has had only one winning season since 1967 and owns the nation’s longest losing streak in Division I-A football.

New Mexico State Athletic Director Al Gonzales announced the appointment of Hess, the former head football coach at Stephen F. Austin and Angelo State, to replace Mike Knoll, whose contract was not renewed.

Hess, 53, was the head coach at Stephen F. Austin for seven years before resigning after the 1988 season to devote full attention to the job of athletic director. He has a career collegiate coaching record of 112-53-5.

Knoll, the fifth coach to be fired by New Mexico State since 1972, was not able to rebuild a sagging program that has produced only one winning record since 1967, 6-5 in 1978. The Aggies finished 0-11 in 1989 and their 17 straight defeats dating back to the 1988 season is the longest losing streak in Division 1-A. New Mexico State compiled a 4-40 record during Knoll’s four-year tenure.