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OUAZ Athletics

Mike Nesbitt

COACHING ACCOLADES

  • NAIA West Region Coach of the Year (2019)
  • SAC Coach of the Year (2019)


Mike Nesbitt was hired on April 28, 2017, to start the football program at OUAZ. In seven years, and six seasons of competition, the Spirit have won 42 games, made two postseason appearances, and won the Sooner Athletic Conference championship in 2019 and 2022.

During his 20 years as a collegiate coach – including seven as a head coach – at a variety of levels, Nesbitt has been involved in 145 wins. During those seven seasons as a head coach, Nesbitt has compiled a 59-28 (.678) record and made three postseason appearances.

After guiding the Spirit to the 2019 SAC Championship and a trip to the NAIA Football Championship Series, Nesbitt was named the SAC Coach of the Year and the NAIA West Region Coach of the Year.

Nesbitt has coached teams in the NCAA D2, NAIA, and NJCAA playoffs and he was offensive coordinator at Blinn College when they won the 2006 NJCAA National Championship.

In seven seasons as a play-calling head coach, Nesbitt teams have ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring and total offense four times. Nesbitt called offenses have averaged over 40 points and 450 yards per game during that time.
 

OUAZ (2017-Present)

Nesbitt has wasted little time in turning OUAZ into one of the top NAIA football programs in the west. In six seasons, the Spirit have gone 42-13 while winning a conference championship and playing in the NAIA Football Championship Series and the NCCAA Victory Bowl. Seven of the 11 losses have been by one score, with two coming on the final play of the game. OUAZ has also won two games over ranked opponents under Nesbitt’s leadership.

Nesbitt has also lived up to his reputation as one of the top offensive play-callers. In the program’s six seasons, OUAZ has averaged 45 points and nearly 500 yards per game. The team has finished in the top six in the NAIA in total offense each season and they have scored 50-plus points in a game 12 times.

West Texas A&M (2013-2016)

In four seasons as the head coach of West Texas A&M (NCAA D2) in Canyon, Texas, Nesbitt guided the Buffaloes to a 25-17 record and the quarterfinals of the 2013 NCAA National Championship. Nesbitt restructured and molded that program with student-athletes and coaches who possessed strong character, high values, and outstanding leadership skills. He sought out recruits who were exceptional young people from across the country.

Along with recording three winning seasons with Nesbitt as head coach, the football program at West Texas A&M had the highest team GPA in school history.

The 2013 team finished eighth nationally in the final AFCA Coaches’ Poll and completing an 11-3 season. That team earned its second-straight NCAA playoff appearance and seventh in school history as senior quarterback Dustin Vaughan (Baltimore Ravens) threw for 5,401 yards and 53 touchdown passes and finished as the Harlon Hill runner-up. Vaughan was the only quarterback at any level to throw for over 5,000 yards, and his 5,401 yards are the most all-time in NCAA Division 2.

Assistant Coaching Career

Houston (2012): Nesbitt was named the offensive coordinator at the University of Houston in January 2012 and his offense received high praise through the spring and summer. He left the position in the fall.

Stephen F. Austin (2011): Nesbitt assumed the role of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Stephen F. Austin State University in January 2011. The Lumberjacks completed their season ranked ninth in total offense and sixth in passing. Sophomore quarterback, Brady Attaway completed his season ranked seventh in the nation in passing and 10th overall in passing yards with an average of 289.2 per game.

West Texas A&M (2007-10): Nesbitt’s first stint at West Texas A&M started as the wide receivers and quarterbacks coach in 2007-09 before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2010. In 2010, the offensive unit completed their season ranked second in the nation in total offense. In 12 games and 920 plays, they accumulated 6,348 yards for an average of 6.9 yards per play and a total yards average of 529 yards per game. The passing offense, led by senior Taylor Harris, threw for 5,075 yards with 40 touchdowns and finished second in the nation.

Blinn (2005-06): During his two seasons as offensive and recruiting coordinator at Blinn, he helped the Buccaneers post an impressive 19-3 record that included the 2006 NJCAA National Championship. During that 2006 championship season, the Buccaneer offense finished 10th nationally in total offense, averaging 352.6 yards per game. In those two years at Blinn, Nesbitt coached 10 players to all-conference honors with two earning All-America accolades.

Howard Payne (2001-04): Before his move to Blinn, Nesbitt was the offensive line, running backs, and kicking coach at Howard Payne University. During his four seasons with the Yellow Jackets, the team recorded a 30-10 mark and its offense ranked among the top units in both the American Southwest Conference and within the country. Six players earned All-Conference honors, while one of the teams’ kickers garnered All-America praise.

Playing Career (New Mexico & NFL)

Nesbitt played collegiately for the University of New Mexico where he served as the punter from 1991-1993. He ranks second in UNM history with a career punting average of 42.89 yards per punt and his 45.0 yards per punt in 1993 was second in the nation and is fourth-best in Lobo history. Nesbitt was honored as the 1993 Male Athlete of the Year by the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame, in addition to earning second-team All-WAC attention.

After concluding his collegiate career at UNM, Nesbitt spent time in the NFL as a punter with the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings organizations.

Personal

Nesbitt returned to New Mexico in 1996 where he received his bachelor’s degree. Mike and his wife Camille Aragon-Nesbitt, have one son Gavin.