UNK will formally introduce Lynn as the 18th head coach in school history at 10 a.m. Friday a press conference at the UNK Health and Sports Center.

Lynn, who has been the head coach at Eastern New Mexico the past five years, replaces Josh Lamberson, who led the Lopers the past two years.

"I'm excited, man, fired up. It's a chance to do something good, or great. It's an opportunity to turn that thing around," Lynn said.

A native of Eunice, N.M., and an Eastern New Mexico graduate, Lynn helped turn his alma mater around, leading the Greyhounds to 27 wins, two C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl appearances and a share of the 2013 Lone Star Conference title. Prior to taking over the Eastern New Mexico program, he helped turn New Mexico Military Institute into a winner. In 2011, he led the Broncos to nine wins, a bowl berth and a national ranking of sixth in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

In six years as a collegiate head coach, Lynn had a 37-27 record.

When Lamberson resigned on Dec. 21, Lynn saw "first and foremost, just the opportunity to go to a place like Kearney and UNK and take what I've done at the last two programs and try to do it there."

Though personally not familiar with Kearney, Lynn's wife's brother has lived here for a year an a half and his family told him it was a good place to look at. UNK is a bigger school and when he came for his on-campus interview he was impressed with what he found.

"Dr. Plinske was a big draw for me. ... I felt me and him and the rest of the people I got to meet that day just hit it off," Lynn said.

Before Lynn was named head coach at Eastern New Mexico, the Greyhounds had not had a winning season since 2004. They haven't had a losing season since and were tabbed as the top collegiate program in New Mexico in 2015 by HERO Sports.

This past season, Eastern New Mexico (7-5) battled MIAA-member Fort Hays State in the Heart of Texas Bowl. Tying for third place in the Lone Star Conference, the Greyhounds led the league in total offense (473.4 yards per game) and rushing offense (344.6 ypg) while ranking second in passing efficiency (160.5) and rushing defense (105.3 ypg).

But Lynn said he's more proud of the fact, "the last four years, my teams at Eastern New Mexico University have had the highest GPA in the Lone Star Conference."

Eastern's bowl trip in 2013 marked its first postseason appearance in 30 years with the LSC title the program's first conference title since 1991. Subsequently, Lynn was named the LSC Coach of the Year, was tabbed as the Region 4 Coach of the Year by two different outlets and was runner up for the Liberty Mutual National Division II Coach of the Year award.

"Josh is a proven winner at the NCAA Division II level. Not only is he an excellent coach, but he is resourceful and understands how to make the most of any situation. Above all, he is a players' coach and will sustain our strong Loper family culture," UNK Athletic Director Paul Plinske said. "He is the best hire for today and an even better hire for the future of Loper football. He will do great things at UNK."

Getting to know Josh Lynn

• Career head coaching record of 37-27)
• Eastern New Mexico University (Portales, N.M.), Head Coach/Secondary/Special Teams Coordinator (January 2012-December 2016) … record of 27-25
• New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell, N.M.), Head Coach/Offensive & Special Teams Coordinator/Offensive Line (Spring 2011-Fall 2011) … record of 9-2
• New Mexico Military Institute, Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line (Spring 2010-Spring 2011)
• New Mexico Military Institute, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary/Linebackers (Spring 2005-Spring 2010)
• Delta State University (Cleveland, Miss.), Assistant Coach/Outside Linebackers & Safeties (Summer 2004-Spring 2005)
• Eastern New Mexico University, Graduate Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Wide Receivers/Tight Ends/Specialists (August 2002-May 2004)
• Eastern New Mexico University, Assistant Coach-Restricted Earnings/Wide Receivers/Tight Ends/Specialists (Spring 2001-May 2002)
• A native of Eunice, N.M., Josh (38) and his wife, Pamela, have three children, Bryson (6), Carly (2) and Levi (1) … Pamela was a volleyball player at Division I Hofstra University (N.Y.) … brother, Jeff, is currently the head football coach at Roswell (N.M.) High School … father, David, is in the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Honors after a nearly four-decade coaching career
• Education: B.S. in Physical Education from Eastern New Mexico, 2002; Master's in Sports Administration from Eastern New Mexico, 2004.

Lynn Tabbed as 18th Football Coach in UNK History

Kearney, Neb. -The University of Nebraska at Kearney has hired former Eastern New Mexico head coach Josh Lynn as its head football coach, UNK announced today (Jan. 4).

UNK will formally introduce Lynn as the 18th head coach in school history on Friday, Jan. 6. The news conference will begin at 10 a.m. on the East Concourse of the UNK Health & Sports Center.

"What I am excited about is the passion of the current athletic administration to continue to build a program for this university and community," said Lynn. "I am committed to ensuring our student-athletes are successful on the field, in the classroom and in the community. My family and I are excited to be a part of the UNK Loper family."

Lynn replaces Josh Lamberson, who led the Lopers the past two years. Lynn becomes just the fifth head football coach at UNK since 1955. UNK Director of Athletics Dr. Paul Plinske chose Lynn following a search that began in late December.

Lynn, 38, is a native of Eunice, N.M., and an ENMU graduate. Over the past five seasons, he helped turn his alma mater around, leading the Greyhounds to 27 wins, two C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl appearances and a share of the 2013 Lone Star Conference (LSC) title. In six years as a collegiate head coach, Lynn has a 37-27 record.

Prior to his return to Portales, the 'Hounds had not had a winning season since 2004. They now have recorded four straight winning campaigns and were tabbed as the top collegiate program in New Mexico (all levels) in 2015 by HERO Sports.

This past season, ENMU went 7-5 and battled MIAA-member Fort Hays State in the Heart of Texas Bowl. Tying for third place in the LSC, the 'Hounds led the league in total offense (473.4 yards per game) and rushing offense (344.6 ypg) while ranking second in passing efficiency (160.5) and rushing defense (105.3 ypg).

Three ENMU players were named first-team all-conference with junior Kamal Cass chosen as the LSC's Offensive Back of the Year and also garnering All-American honors.

The 'Hounds' bowl trip in 2013 marked ENMU's first postseason appearance in 30 years, with the LSC title the program's first conference title since 1991. Subsequently, Lynn was named the LSC Coach of the Year, was tabbed as the Region 4 Coach of the Year by two different outlets and was runner up for the Liberty Mutual National Division II Coach of the Year award.

Over the past four seasons, the 'Hounds have set numerous school records while ranking among the national leaders in a variety of categories, including total offense, rushing offense, passing efficiency, rushing defense and punt return yardage. At the same time, ENMU has had the LSC's highest football team GPA.

"Josh is a proven winner at the NCAA Division II level. Not only is he an excellent coach, but he is resourceful and understands how to make the most of any situation. Above all, he is a players' coach and will sustain our strong Loper family culture," said Plinske. "He is the best hire for today and an even better hire for the future of Loper football. He will do great things at UNK."

Lynn is a member of the Division II 2016 AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Board of Coaches and was the LSC's Chair for head football coaches. A member of the Super Region 4 ranking committee, he helped in fund-raising and the planning to get a $15.6 million dollar stadium back on the ENMU campus.

Prior to returning to Portales, Lynn spent seven years (2005-11) at New Mexico Military Institute. He was head coach in 2011, leading the Broncos to nine wins, a bowl berth and a national ranking of sixth in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association)

Working alongside his brother, Jeff, Lynn was NMMI's defensive coordinator for four years before becoming assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2010. From 2005-09, NMMI was New Mexico's winningest collegiate program. The Broncos took part in the 2009 Salt City Bowl in Hutchinson, Kan., the program's first postseason appearance in 11 years.

He also worked in the defensive secondary and with the outside linebackers at Division II power Delta State (Mississippi) in 2004. Lynn began his coaching career at his alma mater where he was a restricted earnings coach and then a graduate assistant. He worked with the 'Hounds receivers, tight ends and specialists and was recruiting coordinator for nearly two years.

Throughout his 16-year coaching career, Lynn has coordinated both sides of the ball and coached every position except the defensive line.

In his playing days, Lynn was a two-time first-team all-conference tight end who helped ENMU win back-to-back LSC South Division titles in 1999 and 2000. His teammates also voted him a co-captain twice during his career.

GETTING TO KNOW JOSH LYNN (Career head coaching record of 37-27)

Coaching Experience

• Eastern New Mexico University (Portales, N.M.), Head Coach/Secondary/Special Teams Coordinator (January 2012-December 2016) … record of 27-25
• New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell, N.M.), Head Coach/Offensive & Special Teams Coordinator/Offensive Line (Spring 2011-Fall 2011) … record of 9-2
• New Mexico Military Institute, Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line (Spring 2010-Spring 2011)
• New Mexico Military Institute, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary/Linebackers (Spring 2005-Spring 2010)
• Delta State University (Cleveland, Miss.), Assistant Coach/Outside Linebackers & Safeties (Summer 2004-Spring 2005)
• Eastern New Mexico University, Graduate Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Wide Receivers/Tight Ends/Specialists (August 2002-May 2004)
• Eastern New Mexico University, Assistant Coach-Restricted Earnings/Wide Receivers/Tight Ends/Specialists (Spring 2001-May 2002)

Personal (Turned 38 on Dec. 23): A native of Eunice, N.M., Josh and his wife, Pamela, have three children in Bryson (6), Carly (2) and Levi (1) … the former Pamela Zens was a volleyball player at Division I Hofstra University (N.Y.) … brother, Jeff, is currently the head football coach at Roswell (N.M.) High School … father, David, is in the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Honors after a nearly four-decade coaching career

Education: B.S. in Physical Education from Eastern New Mexico, 2002; Master's in Sports Administration from Eastern New Mexico, 2004

Lynn Leaving Greyhound Football Program

by David Norton
Eastern New Mexico News

PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico University athletic department announced Tuesday that football coach Josh Lynn is leaving the program.

Lynn, a former Greyhound player, appears headed to take over the head coaching position at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He confirmed he was offered the position Tuesday morning, but hadn't signed paperwork. He and the school otherwise declined comment.

"I've loved my time here," Lynn said in a Tuesday afternoon release from ENMU. "I've been treated extremely well by Dr. Gamble, Dr. Greg Waggoner and (former Athletic Director) Dr. Jeff Geiser. I'm extremely proud of all the efforts of the players I had the opportunity to coach and Greyhound football looks bright moving forward."

Should he take the job with the Lopers, Lynn would replace Josh Lamberson, who left the school in December for a position with Division-I Abilene Christian.

Lynn's overall record at ENMU is 27-25, with .500 or better records in the last four campaigns. He initially went 3-7 his first season, but those three wins were vacated due to an NCAA punishment. The school self-reported violations, and vacated four seasons of victories for numerous programs due to administrative errors that led to teams using ineligible players.

Lynn led the Greyhounds to a Lone Star Conference Championship in 2013 and two consecutive postseason appearances to the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl. Also, he led ENMU to wins over rival West Texas A&M in the annual Wagon Wheel game three times.

The next Greyhound coach will step into a favorable situation, with LSC Offensive Back of the Year and All-American running back Kamal Cass and LSC Freshman of the Year Wyatt Strand at quarterback. The team garnered 11 All-LSC selections, and also finished second in the country in rushing and 10th in pass efficiency.

The situation at Kearney has been quite different for the Lopers, who are 10-45 in the last five years — including 1-10 last year — without a four-win season in that time.

The Lopers play in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, a conference that is considered one of the best in Division II. While historically the LSC has done well in the national spotlight, the MIAA has become the nation's power conference as of late. Northwestern Missouri State University won its sixth national title in 2016 and the conference had seven All-Americans.

"We appreciate all that Josh has done for Greyhound football and ENMU. He will be missed and we wish he and his family the best moving forward," Waggoner said in a release. "The search for the next head football coach for ENMU will begin immediately. Our plan is to have a new head coach in place very soon."