More than 10 months after returning to coach at his alma mater, New Mexico defensive coordinator Rocky Long still is embracing the chili reception.

While the pandemic has curbed activities that he used to pursue in the Land of Enchantment, Long said, “the green chili’s still here, and you can still get that.”

In his 11 years at San Diego State, the final nine as the Aztecs’ head coach, Long would buy the peppers frozen or have them shipped.

“It doesn’t taste like it does at home,” said Long, whose Lobos play Hawaii at Aloha Stadium on Saturday. “If you live (in New Mexico), you know what real green chili is. And if you don’t live here, you can’t explain it. I’ve had my fill of green chili. Maybe I’ve eaten too much of it. I’m waiting for this pandemic to get over so I can actually enjoy New Mexico because of all the things we like about being here.”

Danny Gonzales, New Mexico’s first-year head coach, enticed his mentor to help spice the Lobos’ defense. Long is acknowledged as one of college football’s most innovative defensive coaches. His version of the 3-3-5 scheme has confounded opponents and then spawned imitations. As San Diego State’s head coach, Long still choreographed the Aztecs’ defense.

Two years ago, Long encouraged Gonzales to accept the defensive coordinator’s position at Arizona State. The past December, Long implored Gonzales to accept an invitation to interview for New Mexico’s vacant head coaching job.

Gonzales, also a UNM alumnus, then asked Long to join his staff. And then he asked again. And again.

“I kept beating away, beating away, beating away,” said Gonzales, who sent text messages with “#GoLobos” attached. Gonzales spoke of being a “Lobo for life.”

In January, Long decided to retire as the Aztecs’ head coach. “To be honest, when I retired, I wanted to be an assistant coach again,” Long said. “I got tired of being the head coach … because you’re not around the young people. You don’t get to have interaction. You don’t have your group. You don’t belong. The only guys a head coach gets to mess with are the guys who are troublemakers.”

Long accepted Gonzales’ offer to return to UNM, where he had been a quarterback and, later, the head coach.

“It was one of the best recruiting things I’ve ever done,” Gonzales said. “And so finally, he said his heart is where he wanted it to be, and where he wanted it to be was in Albuquerque.”

Long said there were other coaching opportunities. “But when you play somewhere, it’s always your school,” Long said. “It’ll be your school forever. When they do well, you sit there and pound your chest and brag to everybody. And when they don’t do well, it hurts deep down inside. And the program hasn’t been doing well. … I thought I could make a difference. And, so, Coach G gave me this opportunity to come in and make a difference, and that’s as good as it gets.”

The Lobos did not have spring workouts nor summer training camp because of the pandemic. After the Mountain West announced the eight-game season, the Lobos had to wait a week to practice before reaching an agreement with local officials. Their Oct. 24 opener against Colorado State was canceled. This past Saturday, San Jose State rolled up 579 yards, including 481 through the air against a depleted UNM secondary, in a 38-21 rout.

But while the Lobos are trying to match healthy defenders to the 3-3-5 scheme, Long is enjoying his new role. Long also doubles as the linebackers coach.

“I’m blessed Coach G gave me this opportunity because — guess what? — I forgot how much fun it was,” Long said.