MinerIllustrated.com is a division of Shamrock Media, LLC. The site was established in July 2009 as a “blog” before re-launching as a news and information website in Sept. 2009.

Miner Illustrated is a fully-credentialed online media publication dedicated to the dissipation and analysis of information and events, in regards to UTEP Athletics. The Miner Illustrated Staff provides coverage of recruiting, player profiles, team analysis and other articles in order to better engage the UTEP fan community.

Miner Illustrated provides free and subscription-based content, which includes recruiting information and profiles, to its loyal fan base of Miner Maniacs. If you’d like to see what you’re missing, .

Whether it’s free or subscription-based content you’re looking for; you won’t be disappointed either way.

Chris Avila: President

Chris is a native El Pasoan, born and raised in the Sun City. He is a proud graduate of Montwood High School (class of 1997), and was fortunate to continue his studies at the University of Notre Dame (class of 2001). Upon receiving a business degree from the Golden Dome, Chris returned home and began working in the field of education for a local school district. He continued his education by receiving a masters in education from UTEP in 2006 and completed his doctoral dissertation in the Educational Leadership and Foundations department at UTEP in May of 2011. Chris is undoubtedly a passionate and vocal supporter of the Fighting Irish, but also follows wholeheartedly the Chicago Cubs and Dallas Cowboys.

He may be reached at show@minerillustrated.com or you can follow him on Twitter at @chrisavila_01.

Danny Levario: Director of Business Operations
Danny is a native of Anthony, Texas and has lived in the El Paso area for most of his life. He graduated from El Paso’s Cathedral High School in 1995 before moving on to the University of Notre Dame (Class of 1999). After graduating from Notre Dame, Danny moved to San Diego where he spent three years working as a tax accountant with a “Big 4” firm. In 2002, he moved back to El Paso and worked as a teacher and basketball coach at an El Paso Catholic high school. Danny now works as a tax accountant with a local construction company. A long time sports fan, Danny follows the Irish, Miners, Chicago Bears and San Antonio Spurs.

He may be reached at show@minerillustrated.com.

Jeff Taylor: Chief photographer

Jeff has been Miner Illustrated’s chief photographer since the fall of 2009, shooting football, men’s and women’s basketball and softball. A native of Albuquerque, N.M., living there since elementary school, he arrived in El Paso as a member of a proud military family. Jeff is a graduate of Socorro High (1983) and UTEP (2006) and is employed full time as a critical care Registered Nurse. He is an enthusiastic college sports fan, following UTEP, Longhorn football and the University of Georgia, to name a few. He has been an avid amateur photographer for many years and is currently developing a professional portfolio to expand into the portrait, quinceañera and wedding fields. You can view his work by clicking here.

He may be reached at show@minerillustrated.com or contacted at his photography website.

Gus Contreras: Staff writer

Gus has been a resident of El Paso, Texas for 24 years. He graduated from Hanks High School in 2004 and is currently attending El Paso Community College. He is working on a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Gustavo is an avid sports fan, attending UTEP athletic games for more than 10 years, while participating on Internet sports forums for the past five years. He’ll use that well-rounded knowledge, of what the fans want to know, and bring it to them in his writing.

Gus has also played competitive golf in high school and worked at Coronado Country club for more than three years. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf, watching soccer and participating in active sports.

He may be reached at show@minerillustrated.com or you can follow him on Twitter at @GusContreras21.

Josh Puga: Staff writer, basketball recruiting expert

Josh Puga has been working with Miner Illustrated since the Aug. 2010, bringing Miner fans the latest and most up-to-date recruiting information you won’t find anywhere else. He, along with fellow writer UTEP66, was the backbone behind MI’s much read “Scouting Mine” article. The article has taken on a new shape by splitting into two separate article, basketball and football, but that doesn’t mean Puga’s perspective or eye for talent has diminished.

Puga also pens weekly opinion articles and features in regards to UTEP basketball’s recruiting trail.

He may be reached at show@minerillustrated.com or you can follow him on Twitter at @JPuga1966.

Angel Luna: Staff writer, football recruiting expert

There are three things you need to know about Luna: he was born and raised in Puerto Rico, is an avid fan of college sports, especially football, basketball and volleyball and in 2003 he moved to El Paso, Texas. Since then, he’s followed UTEP’s basketball, football and volleyball teams, faithfully, while also keeping a closer eye on their respective recruiting efforts. Luna played competitive volleyball and softball in high school and enjoys playing golf, softball, basketball and the piano in his spare time.

He may be reached at show@minerillustrated.com or you can follow him on Twitter at @quantumii_usa.

Sal Guerrero: Staff writer, women’s basketball beat writer

Sal Guerrero has been in and around UTEP sports all his life, attending games as a youngster and later covering the Miners for multiple media outlets. He began his journalism career at Montwood High School working on the media production team and later continued in college as the football beat writer for The Prospector, UTEP’s student newspaper. After less than a year at the paper, officialsportsreport.com covering all things college sports, picked him up as the associate managing editor for the UTEP division. A year later he found his way back to The Prospector taking over the sports editor position and shooting photography. After finishing his degree in journalism he teamed up with Miner Illustrated in the summer of 2011. On a side note, Sal was also a UTEP cheerleader for a few years, something the Miner Illustrated staff refuses to forget. If you have any question regarding the cheerleading please do not hesitate to ask him.

He may be reached at show@minerillustrated.com or you can follow him on Twitter at @Salosaurus_Rex.

Awards and Recognition

Beautiful Blogger Award

The Beautiful Blogger Award is passed on by other websites who are avid readers or simply fans of the work. We are honored to have been given this award by Ted “Bone” Fox, author of the site The View From the Dining Room Office, and former college roommate of Chris Avila

Sidenote: While students at Notre Dame, the two hosted a sports talk radio show called “The Boneyard” alongside other roommates Kevin “The Kid” Leonard and Victor Suarez… it is thanks to that show and a number of other sporting experiences that Chris was bitten by the sports reporting bug. An enormous amount of gratitude and thanks is owed to these gentlemen for the great experiences and the opportunity for Chris to work in this industry.

His blog is written in a similar format to the book he has written and is working to get published; a humorous memoir about his life as he recounts various situations, conversations, and experiences with just a touch of sarcasm.

Please make sure to visit the site — you won’t be disappointed.

Nominated: What’s Up El Paso – Best Local Website, 2011