CHANGE IS GOOD FOR GOTTLIEB NEW COACHING STAFF BENEFITS FORMER VALENCIA STANDOUT.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

Alex Gottlieb wasn't sure what to think. The coaches who recruited him to New Mexico State were gone. Fired.

A new coaching staff was in place, and the former Valencia High offensive lineman knew nothing he had done before mattered. That he had started three games the previous year as an injury replacement was inconsequential.

He had to prove himself all over again.

``It was just weird,'' Gottlieb said. ``You think you have it in good, that you know what the coaches like, and then there's this other group of coaches that's really different.''

So spring practice took on added importance for Gottlieb. Call it a midterm exam to show what he had learned in his first two years of college. Gottlieb passed, and he will enter fall practice next month first on the depth chart at right tackle.

The coaching change turned out to be a plus. Not only did coach Hal Mumme bring in a fresh optimism, he also stressed strength and conditioning.

``I'm probably like 10 times better now than last year just because of the strength training from new strength coach Mark Walters,'' Gottlieb said. ``It's unparalleled how people have changed from last year to this year. Everyone is in shape now. I'm at about 295 (and) I started spring workouts at like, 280. That's 15 pounds of mostly all muscle.''

Gottlieb should be able to handle the extra weight on his 6-foot-5 frame, according to former Valencia coach Brian Stiman.

``What stood out about him is not just how big he was, but how athletic he was for his size,'' Stiman said. ``That's hard to find in an offensive lineman. I can't recall an offensive lineman to come through our school with the size and athletic ability that he had.''

After redshirting his freshman season, Gottlieb received his first chance to start last year against rival New Mexico. Although he was unfamiliar with the rivalry when he entered the college, he said the intensity reminded him of Valencia's battles with Hart.

Gottlieb never beat Hart, but the Vikings finally defeated their rival last season for the first time.

``I remember getting, like, eight phone calls from former teammates the night Valencia beat Hart,'' Gottlieb said. ``It's just too bad I couldn't be there. I'm just glad that they did it finally, and we got that monkey off our backs.''

Gottlieb could get a second chance of sorts to battle Hart the next three seasons. New Mexico State moves this year into the Western Athletic Conference, in which Fresno State plays. Hart has made Fresno State a second home, with four former Indians on the Bulldogs' football team.

``It will be interesting,'' Gottlieb said. ``When we start playing each other, I'm sure it will be as intense as it was in high school. High school is in the past. Maybe I can get one up on them in college.''

Matthew Kredell, [phone]

matthew.kredell(at)dailynews.com