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Grady Stretz begins his eighth year on the Lobo coaching staff. After five years tutoring the defensive line from 1998-2002, Stretz has been mentoring the Lobos safeties the past two years. Stretz recruits northwest New Mexico, East Texas, Dallas, Phoenix and Arizona high schools and junior colleges. Stretz and head coach Rocky Long embark on their 10th straight year together as the two served under Bob Toledo at UCLA in 1996-97. Long was the defensive coordinator with the Bruins while Stretz was a graduate assistant, working with defensive ends, linebackers and special teams. Including the 2005 season, Stretz and linebackers coach Lenny Rodriguez will join Walt Klinker (1968-72, 1977-79) and Mark Parks (1990-97) as the longest-tenured assistant coaches at UNM. In 2004, senior co-captain Josh Bazinet - a former walk-on - was named second team all-Mountain West Conference in 2004. He tied for the league lead in fumble recoveries with four, including a 70-yard score on a return against Oregon State. Bazinet led UNM with four caused recoveries and he was third on the team in tackles (75). Lobo senior safety Brandon Ratcliff was named first team all-conference for the second year in a row following the 2003 season. Additionally, senior Sidney Wiley earned honorable mention honors from his strong safety position, while fellow senior Terrell Golden started 38 games from 2000-03. Ratcliff (72) and Wiley (65) ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in tackles and they combined to intercept seven passes, four by Ratcliff. Golden was seventh on the team with 44 tackles. That trio combined for 14.5 tackles for loss. Lobo defensive linemen flourished under Stretz' guidance. Daniel Kegler and D.J. Renteria were both second team all-league in 2002 while Hebrews Josue was chosen team captain and honorable mention all-conference. Kegler finished second in the MWC with seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Renteria, who was a team captain and first team all-conference in 2003, tied for second in the league with four fumble recoveries. Defensive end Brian Johnson was a two-time all-Mountain West Conference selection in 2000-01, the first UNM defensive lineman to be so recognized in consecutive years since John Bell in 1989-90. New Mexico is one of only three teams to finish in the top-30 in the nation in total defense each of the past five seasons. Due to an improved defensive front, the Lobos led the Mountain West Conference in rushing defense in 2000 and `01 and finished second in `02. The 2001 unit allowed a paltry 87.4 yards a game, the second-lowest in school history. In 2000, the Lobos finished 17th in the nation in total defense (309.4 ypg), their best ranking since 1962. UNM recorded 50 sacks - the third-highest in school annals - 23.5 of which came from the defensive line. Johnson was named all-league and he led the conference with 9.5 sacks. The UNM run defense held foes to an MWC-low 115.3 yards a game, including just 93.7 ypg in league contests. In Stretz's second season (1999), Jason Purvis led the squad with five tackles for loss. Thanks to several forced fumbles by the defensive line, the Lobos went from a -0.83 turnover margin in 1998 to +0.18 in 1999, the third-best figure in the Mountain West. In Stretz's first year at UNM, the Lobo defensive line recorded 21 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, led by Purvis' eight tackles for a loss and five quarterback dumps. Stretz, 32, was a four-year letterwinner at UCLA, and a member of the 1993 Rose Bowl team that finished the season ranked 17th in the nation. During his senior year of 1995, Stretz earned honorable mention all-Pac-10 accolades at defensive tackle. He also had the distinction of being named CBS Player of the Game against Washington State, earning the Chevrolet Scholarship Award. Stretz culminated his final campaign at Westwood by winning the N.N. Sugarman Trophy for Best Leadership on the team. During his career at UCLA, Stretz started 22 games and was a member of Bruin teams that participated in three bowl games: 1991 Sun Bowl, 1993 Rose Bowl and 1995 Aloha Bowl. He signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants in 1996. Stretz received both of his degrees from UCLA, a bachelor's in History in 1996 and master's in Arts and Education in 1997. A Tempe, Ariz., native, Stretz graduated from McClintock High School in 1991 and received praise from such publications as USA Today and BlueChip Report. Stretz and his wife, Sarah, have a 2-year-old son, Maddox and were expecting their second child in mid-July. 
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