Former OU coordinator excited about first year at UTEP

<p align="justify">(El Paso-AP) -- Gary Nord brings the excitement you would expect from a first-time head coach.<br><p align="justify">Nord is in his first season as head coach at Texas-El Paso, having

Monday, August 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(El Paso-AP) -- Gary Nord brings the excitement you would expect from a first-time head coach.

Nord is in his first season as head coach at Texas-El Paso, having replaced Charlie Bailey. Bailey retired after seven seasons.

A former offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, Nord predicts he can turn the Miners from a program that's had only two winning seasons since 1970 into a consistent winner and that he'll do it this season.

As offensive coordinator, he pulled the Miners' total offense from 97th nationally in 1997 to 43rd in 1999.

He's aiming for a 7-and-4 season and a bowl appearance this year.

U-TEP opens its season Saturday at Number 19 Oklahoma.