Christian Escobar is returning home.
Escobar, a former Lobo football player and Sul Ross grad, was recently named the new offensive coordinator / wide receivers' coach.
"I'm blessed beyond belief to be able to go back home. It's a place that I played at. I've got a lot of love for it. It's got a special place in my heart. I'm extremely excited to get back," said Escobar.
Escobar is a native of El Paso and a 2011 graduate of Americas High School. He starred as a tight end and slot back for the Lobos from 2011-2014.
He earned his bachelors in English language arts before obtaining his masters in health and human performance in 2016 from Sul Ross.
Escobar also served as a tight end and running backs coach from 2015-2016 at Sul Ross.
In 2017, he returned to the El Paso area to coach the quarterbacks and running backs at Fabens High School.
Recently, Escobar had been working as the assistant football coach, serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks' coach, at Oklahoma Panhandle State University since 2018.
Escobar helped lead Oklahoma Panhandle to a 6-5 overall record in 2018. The program finished 6-2 and second overall in the Sooner Athletic Conference at the NAIA level.
As a coach and player, Escobar got to be a part of Lobo football's success in 2012 and 2016.
In 2012, under former offensive coordinator Scotty Walden and former head coach Wayne Schroeder, the Lobos sported one of the best offenses in NCAA Division III behind record-breaking performances from players like A.J. Springer, Lee Carothers and Dominique Carson.
Sul Ross finished 5-5 overall and 4-3 in conference play. The season was highlighted with an upset of nationally-ranked Trinity University on Sept. 15, 2012, where the Lobos came out with the 62-35 win at Jackson Field.
As a coach, Escobar was on the staff of the last Sul Ross football team to sport a winning record. The Lobos went 6-4 overall in 2016 under former head coach John Pearce.
Exhibiting an explosive offense this past season, the Lobos finished 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the American Southwest Conference, doubling the win total from the previous season.
"I want to help bring back something special there," Escobar said. "Coach (Barry) Derickson is doing a phenomenal job. I'm excited to work with him and for him.
"The administration and Amanda Workman have done a wonderful job of keeping everybody in place."
Being three and a half hours from El Paso made coming back to Alpine an easy transition for Escobar. His fiancé, Rita, also attended and graduated from Sul Ross.
Escobar has a four-year-old daughter.
