 Stull turned around a struggling Minutemen football program in two years and also served as an assistant coach under Don James at Kent State and Washington for a dozen years, including as offensive coordinator for the Huskies from 1979 to 1983.In Stull's first season (1986), the Miners compiled a 4–8 record, the most wins compiled by Texas-El Paso in a single season since 1974.The team's best player was quarterback Sammy Garza, who set numerous school passing records during his career with the Miners.