Report: Vanderbilt assistant Nick Howell set to join staff at New Mexico

After being demoted from defensive coordinator, Nick Howell is reportedly leaving Vanderbilt. He’s set to join Bronco Mendenhall’s new staff at New Mexico, according to a report from Football Scoop’s John Brice.

Howell got his coaching start under Mendenhall, joining his staff at BYU as an intern in 2007 and working his way up to defensive coordinator by 2013. All told, Howell spent 14 years under Mendenhall at both BYU and Virginia before Mendenhall stepped down as UVA’s coach following the 2021 season.

That’s when Howell made his way to Vanderbilt as defensive coordinator under Clark Lea. He spent the last two years in the role, but was recently demoted after Lea shook up the coaching staff. Howell was going to become the defensive backs coach, but it appears he’s ready to move on.

Mendenhall was recently named the new head coach at New Mexico after two years away from college football. He stepped down as Virginia’s head coach after six seasons at the helm, totaling a 36-38 record during that time. The Cavaliers made four bowl games under his watch, but he didn’t coach in the 2021 bowl game after announcing his resignation.

Now, Mendenhall is taking over for Danny Gonzales, who struggled to an 11-32 record in his four years with the Lobos.

Nick Howell was part of Vanderbilt’s coaching staff shakeup last month

Late last month, Lea announced plans to make multiple changes at Vanderbilt. For starters, the program was moving on from offensive coordinator Joey Lynch while demoting Howell to defensive backs coach. In a corresponding move, Dan Jackson is set to move to an off-field role after previously serving as the DBs coach.

Vanderbilt went 2-10 this past season, marking the second time in three years the Commodores finished with that record. In 2022, they finished 5-7 to just miss out on a bowl game.

Lea confirmed Lynch’s departure in a press release.

“We had a season where our results and performance fell short of our expectations,” Lea said. “When that is the case, change is necessary. My background as a defensive coordinator will allow me to best serve our team by taking on that responsibility.”

“I’d like to thank Joey for his three years of dedication to our program. I wish him all the best in the future.”

Lynch initially joined Clark Lea’s staff in 2021 as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, but he moved up to offensive coordinator after the departure of David Raih. This past year, the Commodores ranked last in the SEC in total offense and 13th in scoring offense, averaging just 22.8 points per game — one point per contest better than Mississippi State.