Below is a chart of offense, defense and total production of the UTEP Miners football program during Kugler's tenure as head football coach, along with who would be the lowest ranked team during this time period (in purple) and the average team (sky blue). UTEP has been below average each season under his tenure. All rankings in this blog come from my Complex Invasion College Football Production Model. More details about the program under Kugler are after the chart below as well as a link to his contract.
Sean Kugler [2013-2017*] (2015 amended contract)
2013
At the end of the Kugler's first season, the Miners finished 2-10. UTEP played against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning that their SOS was plus or minus one standard deviation from the "leagues" SOS. The Miners best victory was against #117 New Mexico State (42-21) and their worst loss was to #106 ranked Tulsa by a score of (20-34). UTEP had the #116 ranked team in total production with the #107 ranked offense and the #118 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2014
The Miners again finished the regular season at 7-5 and were bowl eligible, but lost their bowl game against #32 ranked Utah State by a score of (6-21). UTEP played against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. The Miners best regular season game was a victory (24-21) over #74 ranked Middle Tennessee State, and their worst loss was to #101 ranked Texas Tech by a score of (26-30). Overall, the Miners had the #69 ranked team with the #75 ranked offense and the #69 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
The Miners again finished the regular season at 7-5 and were bowl eligible, but lost their bowl game against #32 ranked Utah State by a score of (6-21). UTEP played against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. The Miners best regular season game was a victory (24-21) over #74 ranked Middle Tennessee State, and their worst loss was to #101 ranked Texas Tech by a score of (26-30). Overall, the Miners had the #69 ranked team with the #75 ranked offense and the #69 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2015
UTEP finished the regular season overall at 5-7 (bowl ineligible). UTEP played against an "easier" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. The Miners best game again was their victory over #101 ranked Florida Atlantic (27-17), and their worst loss was to #105 ranked UTSA (6-25). UTEP had the #115 ranked team in total production with the #119 ranked offense and the #98 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2016
At the end of the regular season the Miners were again bowl ineligible with a 4-8 win/loss record, while playing against an "easier" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning that UTEP had an SOS between one and two standard deviations higher than the "league" average SOS. The Miners best win was over #71 ranked UTSA (52-49) and their worst loss was to #124 ranked Rice by a score of (24-44). UTEP had the #82 ranked team in total production with the #71 ranked offense and the #73 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
UTEP finished the regular season overall at 5-7 (bowl ineligible). UTEP played against an "easier" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. The Miners best game again was their victory over #101 ranked Florida Atlantic (27-17), and their worst loss was to #105 ranked UTSA (6-25). UTEP had the #115 ranked team in total production with the #119 ranked offense and the #98 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2016
At the end of the regular season the Miners were again bowl ineligible with a 4-8 win/loss record, while playing against an "easier" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning that UTEP had an SOS between one and two standard deviations higher than the "league" average SOS. The Miners best win was over #71 ranked UTSA (52-49) and their worst loss was to #124 ranked Rice by a score of (24-44). UTEP had the #82 ranked team in total production with the #71 ranked offense and the #73 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2017
Near the halfway mark of the regular season the Miners were 0-5, while playing against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. The Miners worst loss was to currently ranked #125 Rice by a score of (14-31). At the time of Kugler's resignation, UTEP had the #130 ranked team in total production (that is the worst team), with the #120 ranked offense and the #128 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
Near the halfway mark of the regular season the Miners were 0-5, while playing against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. The Miners worst loss was to currently ranked #125 Rice by a score of (14-31). At the time of Kugler's resignation, UTEP had the #130 ranked team in total production (that is the worst team), with the #120 ranked offense and the #128 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.