David Lee, his team coming off a fifth straight loss, was fired Sunday as football coach at Texas-El Paso and replaced by defensive coordinator Charlie Bailey.
The Miners dropped to 1-6 after a 45-29 defeat Saturday night to Utah. Their record last year was 1-10.
Lee had an 11-41-1 record in five seasons at UTEP, his best year coming in 1991 at 4-7-1.
Athletic Director John Thompson said Lee would be assigned to other duties in the athletic department.
Thompson said an “uninspired” game against the Utes, plus frustration vented by UTEP players in the interview room after the loss, had prompted him to make a midseason move.
Bailey had a 12-20-2 record in three seasons as head coach at Memphis State. His best year was 1988, his last at the school, when the Tigers finished 6-5.
He was suspended by the NCAA after that season for not cooperating in an investigation into alleged improprieties at the school. His NCAA probation was lifted after three years.
