by ABC-7 Reporter Darren Hunt

EL PASO, Texas -- It has been a roller coaster of a season for the UTEP Miners. A couple of big wins followed by disappointing losses has caused some to question whether head coach Mike Price will be back next season.

UTEP athletic director Bob Stull did not hesitate when ABC-7 asked him that question Tuesday afternoon. He said Price will be back no matter what happens in this season's final two games.

The Miners are currently mired in a three-game losing streak and have fallen to a disappointing 3-7 record with two games remaining, one at Rice next weekend and another against Marshall at the Sun Bowl on Nov. 28.

Four of Price's seven losses this season have been by a touchdown or less. Stull also pointed out that the past two weekends --- a 45-38 overtime loss at Tulane and a 35-31 defeat at SMU -- the game came down to the final play.

Price has 33 wins and 37 losses in his six seasons in El Paso and has never failed to win fewer than four games in a season, but he is assured of posting his fourth straight losing season this year.

Still, Stull thinks it is the right thing to do to bring him back for at least one more season in 2010.

"We have Trevor coming back and Buckram ... Those people, their senior year, to be fair to them and also to give them a chance to maximize their senior year and give Mike the full five years of his recruiting class, I think that would be fair. And I feel good about that."

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