Mike Mendenhall Position: Graduate Assistant / Defense Experience: Second Year Alma Mater: Temple, 2008

Mike Mendenhall begins his second season at the University of New Mexico. He serves as a graduate assistant, specifically helping Toby Neinas with the Lobo special teams and linebackers.

Mendenhall (no relation to BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall), spent the previous two seasons coaching the defensive line and tight ends at his high school alma mater in Paulsboro, N.J.

Paulsboro High went 9-1 last year and won the Colonial Conference title. Mendenhall was also assistant wrestling coach in 2007, leading the team to an 18-3 dual record.

Proir to Paulsboro, Mendenhall spent the 2006 season as a student assistant at Temple, his college alma mater.

Mendenhall was a four-year starter for the Owls from 2002-05. He started 33 games at defensive end, including 24 straight during one stretch. Current UNM defensive line coach Rubin Carter was Mendenhall's position coach in 2004, while Neinas was his coach at Temple in 2002-03.

Mendenhall was a first team all-Big East pick as a junior in 2004 and he received Temple's J. Myron Honigman Award for spirit, dedication and loyalty.

As a senior in 2005, Mendenhall was a preseason honorable mention All-America and on the Watch List for the Lombardi Award (top lineman). He finished the year with 65 tackles, 7 sacks and 14 tackles for loss.

Mendenhall played in one preseason game for the Chicago Bears in 2006. In 2007, he played middle linebacker for the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe. Mendenhall started all 10 games and made 52 tackles.

Mendenhall received his bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting from Temple in 2008.

Mendenhall was a four-year starter in football and wrestling at Paulsboro High School. He was a two-time all-state defensive end as Paulsboro won state titles with undefeated seasons in 2001 and `02.

Lobos Football

Printer-friendly format	Email this article