After more than three decades away from Logan, Mike Canales has returned to his college football home.
Utah State confirmed that Canales homecoming Tuesday, confirming in a press release that the veteran assistant has been hired to join Matt Wells’ coaching staff with the Aggies. Canales will carry multiple titles at USU as he will serve as running backs and tight ends coach as well as hold the label of assistant head coach.
From 1981-83, Canales was a quarterback for the Aggies. He graduated from the university in 1984 before embarking on what’s been a 31-year coaching career.
“It’s with great pride that I welcome Mike back to the Utah State football family,” said Wells. “Mike has a wealth of experience as both a coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and I know our players and staff will benefit from his experiences and knowledge. Adding an alumni and another former Aggie football player onto our coaching staff is, obviously, an ideal scenario as we continue to strive for a Mountain West championship.”
“I have always kept a close eye on Utah State football, and this is the perfect time and a great opportunity for me and my family to come back to my roots,” said Canales. “Obviously, I bleed Aggie Blue as a former player and I’m excited about the future of USU football. I will do everything I can to continue the winning culture that has been established here.”
Canales spent the past six seasons as an assistant at North Texas as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In both 2010 and 2015, he served as interim head coach for the Mean Green. His first coaching job was as a graduate assistant at BYU in 1985-86.
In between, he’s been a collegiate assistant at USF (2007-09; 1996-2000), Arizona (2004-06), North Carolina State (2001-02), Pacific (1995) and Snow College ((1987-94). He was also the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets in 2003.
