SDSU Football: Brady Hoke looking to continue Rocky Long’s success

SDSU football has plenty of firepower on both sides of the ball for the 2020 season even with a new head coach in Brady Hoke.

It is a beginning of a new but familiar era for the San Diego State Aztecs football program. After nine extraordinarily successful seasons with Rocky Long as the head coach, the Aztecs turn to former head coach and defensive line coach Brady Hoke.

From the time of 2011-19, Long brought the Aztecs to 10 bowl appearances, three Mountain West titles and an overall record of 81-38. In four of the last five seasons, the Aztecs have finished with at least 10 wins with 2015 and 2016 having 11.

Coach Long retired from head coaching and left San Diego State to make an easy decision to promote Brady Hoke as head coach once again. Hoke was the head coach of the Aztecs for two seasons in 2009-10. In 2010, Hoke coached the Aztecs to a 9-4 record with a win in the Poinsettia Bowl against the Navy Midshipmen, 35-14.

Hoke then became the head coach of Michigan for four seasons from 2011-15. After accounting for an 11-2 record in 2011, the Wolverines declined continuously through his years with Michigan.

Coach Hoke is in his second stint with the Aztecs after coming in to be the defensive line coach this past season. He was previously the defensive line coach for the Panthers in 2018 as there were signs that coach Long was set to retire.

The Aztecs will now compete against a highly-competitive West division. San Diego State will be competing with the Nevada and the Hawaii for the top team in the West as all three teams are projected to make bowl appearances.

San Diego State was one of the most dangerous Group of Five teams to defend against due to the Aztecs’ dangerous and highly-efficient offense.

They will be undergoing some significant changes but there is potential for them to overcome expectations due to their coaching experiences and their stellar recruiting.