UTEP football's annual coaches clinic received a major dose of NFL pedigree this week, with former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett taking center stage as the keynote speaker. The event, held at the Larry K. Durham Center, brought together local coaches for a unique opportunity to learn from a man with nearly two decades of experience on the NFL sidelines.

Garrett, now a respected analyst for NBC, shared invaluable insights drawn from his journey as both an eight-year NFL quarterback and a coach from 2005 to 2021. His nine-season run leading America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, provided a wealth of high-level football knowledge for the attending coaches to absorb.

The visit held a particularly poignant layer for Garrett, connecting him to the UTEP community through the Laufenberg family. He shared a close bond with former Cowboys quarterback Babe Laufenberg and his son, the late Luke Laufenberg, a Miner who tragically passed away while with the program. During his time in El Paso, Garrett paid tribute at the Luke Laufenberg Fight Station, honoring a player he supported throughout his battle.

Expressing his enthusiasm for being back in the Sun City, Garrett highlighted his admiration for current UTEP head coach Scotty Walden and the Laufenbergs. "I am a big fan of Scotty Walden. Big fan of Babe and Luke Laufenberg," Garrett said. He recalled fond memories of the area from his playing days, including preseason scrimmages against the Raiders in the Sun Bowl during the 1990s. For Garrett, the clinic was more than a speaking engagement; it was a meaningful return to a community with deep personal and professional connections.