ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — University of New Mexico head coach Danny Gonzales has finalized his coaching staff for the 2020 season with the additions of quarterbacks coach Jordan Salkin, formerly at the University of Texas, and defensive line coach Jerome Haywood, formerly with San Diego State.
Additionally, with the hiring of Rocky Long as defensive coordinator, Gonzales has shifted some duties within the staff. Along with serving as defensive coordinator, Long will coach the linebackers. David Howes will move to safeties and Troy Reffett will slide over to corners. Brandon Blackmon will move over from defense to offense and coach receivers, and Jordan Somerville will coach running backs.
Salkin comes to UNM from the University of Texas, where he spent the past three seasons on Tom Herman’s staff, and where he was able to work closely with UNM offensive coordinator Derek Warehime.
He served as a graduate assistant and quality control coach, working with the running backs in 2017 and with quarterbacks in 2018 and 2019. Salkin assisted in all aspects of on-the-field coaching, conducted all off-season position meetings coached on game day in the coaching box. Salkin also was responsible for installing the defenses and oversaw the scout team during practices.
In 2018, he was promoted to serve as full-time quarterbacks coach against Kansas State, helping the Longhorns to a 5-point road win.
With Texas, he picked up three bowl wins, with quarterback Sam Ehlinger earned MVP honors after a 38-10 win over Utah in the 2019 Alamo Bowl. Ehlinger in 2019 finished seventh nationally in passing yards, ninth in point responsible for, 13th in touchdown passes and 24th in completion percentage.
Texas had one of the nation’s top offenses in 2019, ranking in the top 20 in total offense, third down offense, passing offense and scoring offense.
Prior to Texas, he served as offensive quality control coach at Rutgers for the 2016 season and at James Madison for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. With Rutgers he was the assistant quarterbacks coach, oversaw game plans and practice plans and film breakdown. One of his wins in his lone season at Rutgers was a 37-28 win over New Mexico.
At James Madison, he served as the assistant receivers coach, creating many of the game plans and film cut-ups for the receiving corps. He also created and installed the summer development program for the receivers and the tight ends.
He also worked with special teams at JMU, and that unit led the CAA in punting, kickoff returns, and kickoff return touchdowns.
Salkin graduated from West Virginia with a B.S. in sports management and a minor in communications in 2014, and he is finishing his Master’s in sports management from Texas.
Haywood comes to UNM from San Diego State, where he spent two years on the staff under Rocky Long as a defensive quality control coach and assistant on-campus Recruiting coordinator.
With the Aztecs, he helped break down game film and handled a variety of tasks with the Aztecs defense. Prior to his time on staff with San Diego State, Haywood spent as the athletic director for the San Diego Center for Children.
That followed a successful eight-year career in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Renegades (2002-05), the Montreal Alouettes (2006, 2009), the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2007-08) and the Edmonton Eskimos (2009).
With Ottawa, he started 64 of 72 games, and was twice named the CFL’s defensive lineman of the week. He played on a pair of Eastern Conference title winning teams in 2006 and 2007.
Haywood starred as a defensive tackle at San Diego State, where he was a three-time second team All-Mountain West selection. In 1998, he was named the WAC Pacific Division Freshman of the Year.
Haywood graduated from SDSU in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He and his wife Talia have four children.
Gonzales Finalizes Staff for 2020
