University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley Men's Football

Brian Gamble joined UTRGV football as the first assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in program history on March 20, 2023. 2025 Gamble led a defensive unit that led the Southland in five statistical categories, ranking second in the FCS in fumbles recovered (13), sixth in defensive touchdowns (4), seventh in turnovers gained (25), 10th in team passing efficiency defense (116.93), and 28th in sacks allowed per game (1.50). UTRGV was also 14th in the FCS and third in the Southland in points allowed per game (18.8), 16th in the FCS and third in the Southland in rushing yards allowed per game (119.3), 19th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in total yards allowed per game (328.4), 22nd in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in passes intercepted (12), 22nd in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in tackles for loss per game (6.5), 32nd in the FCS and third in the Southland in fewest first downs allowed (221), 34th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in sacks per game (2.25), and 40th in the FCS and third in the Southland in red zone defense (79.3%). Gamble coached freshman linebacker Jaiden Haygood to and 11th place finish in the Jerry Rice Award voting. Haygood was also a FCS Football Central Freshman All-American and a Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American. Previously   Gamble spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons as the inside linebackers coach at Texas State. He contributed to a defensive turnaround in San Marcos which resulted in Texas State’s best defensive production in the program’s FBS history, going back to 2012. Texas State recorded the best total defense (354.3 yards per game), rush defense (111.7 yards/game), scoring defense (25 points/game), tackles for loss (71), yards per play (5.2) and points per drive (2.01) in FBS program history in 2022. Gamble was the linebackers coach at Louisiana Tech for three seasons (2018-20). While there, he guided linebackers Trey Baldwin and Tyler Grubbs to Second Team All-Conference USA honors and three Honorable Mention All-C-USA defensive selections in Willie Baker, Collin Scott and Connor Taylor. Baldwin led C-USA with 5.9 solo tackles per game while Grubbs also earned Freshman All-America honors. Louisiana Tech went 23-13 during Gamble’s tenure, including a 10-win season in 2019 – the first for the program since 1984. The 10th victory was a 14-0 win over Miami in the 2019 Independence Bowl, marking the first shutout in the bowl’s history and the only shutout of the bowl season. Louisiana Tech ranked 30th in the country in scoring defense in 2019 as the Bulldogs allowed just 21.8 points per game – the program’s fewest since 1991. In 2008, Gamble joined the University of the Incarnate Word’s (UIW) staff as a defensive line coach and spent 10 seasons with the Cardinals. He was named the defensive coordinator in 2012. Gamble’s first season at UIW saw the Cardinals finish 16th in the nation in tackles for loss per game and 33rd in sacks per game. When Gamble became defensive coordinator, he transitioned the defense to a 3-4 front. UIW finished fourth in the Lonestar Conference in passing yards allowed per game that season (216). In 2013, UIW recorded the first two shutouts in program history and held four opponents to less than 10 points. Four defensive players earned College Sports Madness All-Independent Second or Third Team honors that season. In 2015, Gamble’s defense ranked first in yards allowed per game among Division I programs in Texas and finished fourth in the Southland Conference in points allowed and third in yards allowed. The UIW defense was 18th in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage, 21st in interceptions, 27th in total first downs allowed, 37th in passing yards allowed per game and 39th in total yards allowed per game. Gamble also mentored All-America linebacker Myke Tavarres and Second Team All-Region cornerback Devan Avery. A graduate of Texas A&M, Gamble played for the Aggies from 1999-2002 and was a four-year starting linebacker while earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership and Development. He started 46 consecutive games and 47 overall, accumulating 341 total tackles in his career. During his senior season, Gamble ranked second on the team with 82 tackles. Gamble was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a Second Team Freshman All-America honoree in 1999 after tallying 60 tackles with 10 tackles for loss and two sacks in 10 starts as a freshman. He led Texas A&M with 110 tackles as a sophomore enroute to earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Gamble was a preseason Third Team All-America selection in 2001 and was on the Butkus Award watch list in 2002. He was voted defensive team captain by his teammates his senior season. Gamble’s coaching career began at Kilgore College in 2004, when he served as the linebackers coach and helped guide the team to a No. 5 ranking and a 10-2 record. He was a graduate assistant at Houston from 2005-07, contributing to the Cougars winning the 2006 C-USA Championship with a 10-4 record. A native of Alto, Texas, Gamble and his wife, Stephanie, have one son, Bossley, and two daughters, Madelyn and Maris.

Jeff Bowen, who spent the previous four seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Northeastern State, joined UTRGV as the first offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in program history on March 27, 2023. 2025 Bowen was named one of nine finalists nationwide and one of two in the Southland for FCS Coordinator of the Year and overseeing an offensive line that allowed just 1.50 sacks per game, the 28th best mark in the FCS and second best in the Southland, and featured an all-conference second team offensive lineman in freshman Nick Hughes. The offensive line consistently gave quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, considerable time to make passes, allowing him and the UTRGV offense to be among the best in the nation. The extra time also helped the UTRGV offense to go the entire season without committing a fumble. The UTRGV offense led the Southland in five categories, ranking sixth in the FCS in points per game (39.6), eighth in passing efficiency (165.62), 15th in passing yards per completion (13.72), 18th in total yards per game (435.2), and 24th in third down conversion percentage (45.0%). UTRGV also ranked 21st in the FCS and second in the Southland in rushing yards per game (188.3), 24th in the FCS and second in the Southland in passing yards per game (246.9), 28th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in red zone offensive conversions (86.5%), and 31st in the FCS and third in the Southland in completion percentage (64.1%). Previously   Head coach Travis Bush and Bowen previously worked together during UTSA’s inaugural season in 2011, when Bush was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Bowen was a graduate assistant working with the offensive line and tight ends.   Bush was also part of the coaching staff at Texas State when Bowen was an offensive lineman from 2006-08. Bush was the wide receivers coach in 2006 before being promoted to associate head coach/co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the next three seasons.   Together, Bush and Bowen helped Texas State to rank fifth in the FCS in total offense and fourth in scoring offense in 2008.   Bowen has significant prior Division I experience, including as the tight ends coach at Stephen F. Austin in 2018, the offensive line coach at Northwestern State in 2017, the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach at Northwestern State from 2014-15, and as a graduate assistant at UTSA from 2011-13 and Texas State in 2010. Bowen also served as the offensive line coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College in 2016. Throughout his career, Bowen has been responsible for recruiting areas including the DFW metroplex, Central Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa.   During the 2017 season, Bowen helped the Northwestern State offense improve in both total offense and scoring offense, leading to a four-win improvement from their 2016 campaign.    While at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Bowen saw four of his five sophomore offensive linemen sign with FBS teams. He tutored first-team all-conference linemen Larry Joubert and Sammy Bernard as well as honorable mention all-conference selections Davis Harker and Kris’Sean Edwards. Joubert signed with Oklahoma State, Bernard with New Mexico, and Harker and Edwards earned scholarships at New Mexico State. Bowen’s offensive line helped the Golden Norse average 40 points and 530 yards of total offense per game in 2016, increasing their scoring by a touchdown and upping their yardage by more than 130 yards per game.   Bowen was an integral part of Northwestern State setting a multitude of single-season program records on offense in 2014. He assisted in building an offensive line that helped Northwestern State accumulate a school-record 4,948 yards of total offense, while setting additional single-season marks for first downs (274), first downs through the air (140), completions (262), completion percentage (67.2) and passing yardage (2,864).   Bowen served as a graduate assistant for the offensive line and tight ends during UTSA’s first three seasons of competition (2011-13). Bowen helped UTSA to an 8-4 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the Western Athletic Conference in the program’s second season of existence in 2012. The campaign was highlighted by historic wins against South Alabama, the program’s first road and FBS victory, and New Mexico State, its first conference win. The offense averaged 31.2 points and 390.2 yards per game as the offensive line paved the way for 1,911 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground, allowing just seven sacks in 368 passing attempts. Bowen worked directly with offensive guard Scott Inskeep, who earned All-WAC Second Team honors.   Bowen started his coaching career as a graduate assistant and interior offensive line coach at Texas State in 2010 and was responsible for both the centers and guards.   A native of North Richland Hills, Texas, Bowen was an offensive lineman at Texas State from 2006-08. As a senior, Bowen earned All-Southland First Team and honorable mention FCS All-American accolades while also earning the Bobcats’ John O’Hara Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award. Additionally, he was a member of the Southland Commissioner’s Honor Roll in both 2007 and 2008.   Bowen began his collegiate football career at East Texas Baptist University where he was named team captain as a sophomore in 2005.   As a prep player, Bowen was a three-year letter winner at Birdville High School near Fort Worth. A two-year team captain, he earned first-team all-district honors as a senior and was an honorable mention selection as a junior.   Bowen graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas State in 2008 before earning a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction from UTSA in 2013. Bowen and his wife, Melanie, have two daughters – Madelyn and Makenna.

Theron Aych joined UTRGV as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Jan. 15, 2026. Aych brings three decades of coaching experience to the Vaqueros, having also served as the wide receivers coach at Oklahoma State in 2025, offensive quality control analyst at Marshall in 2024, offensive coordinator at Tennessee State from 2022-23, wide receivers coach at UTEP in 2016 and 2021, wide receivers and tight ends coach at Arizona from 2017-20, offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Angelo State from 2011-15, special teams and wide receivers coach at Central Missouri from 2004-07, defensive graduate assistant at Washington in 2003, offensive graduate assistant at Houston from 2000-02, assistant head coach at Fort Scott Community College from 1998-99, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Mesabi Range Community College in 1997, and assistant coach at Aberdeen Central High School in South Dakota from 1995-96.   Aych was part of a Marshall team that finished 10-3 and won the Sun Belt Conference Championship, helping the Thundering Herd to rank No. 19 in the FBS in rushing yards per game at 201.7, No. 12 in tackles for a loss allowed at 3.92 per game, and No. 11 in turnovers lost with just 10 all season.   At Tennessee State, during Aych’s first stint as a Division I offensive coordinator, he helped the rushing offensive improve by 18 yards per game in his first season and another 15 yards per game in his second season.   While at Arizona, Aych helped the receivers become a consistent and critical force for the Wildcats' explosive offense despite a heavy lean on the run game in 2017, helping starters Shun Brown, Shawn Poindexter, Tony Ellison and Cedric Peterson to combine for 108 receptions for 1,522 yards and 12 touchdowns. The quartet also emerged as willing blockers on the perimeter to set up several long rushing plays, as Arizona tied for the national lead with 28 runs of at least 30 yards. His 2018 group helped Arizona lead the Pac 12 in yards per reception (14.2) and rank third in passing offense (255.3), while the 2019 receivers also helped the unit rank in the top three in passing (266.1) in the conference.   In his first season at UTEP in 2016, Aych coached a wide receiver unit that helped haul in 21 receiving touchdowns, the most for the program since 2010. The balance provided in the pass game allowed UTEP to improve its per-game scoring by nearly a touchdown from 20.7 points per game in 2015 to 26.3 points per game in 2016. Additionally, receiver Terry Juniel was named All-Conference USA Honorable Mention.   Aych was a finalist for the 2015 Division II AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award while at Angelo State after helping his team lead NCAA Division II in total offense with over 560 yards per game while ranking seventh in points per game (42.5). Aych helped quarterback Kyle Washington earn Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors after throwing for 3,691 yards, an Angelo State single-season record, ranking sixth in the nation. Washington registered 27 passing touchdowns and only nine interceptions in the air and 831 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. He led the nation in total offense and broke ASU’s single-season record for total yards with 4,522.   Aych’s 2014 offense was also stellar, as Angelo State averaged 39.4 points per contest while racking up 469.7 yards of total offense per game to help the Rams go 9-3. Washington set a single-season school record by throwing for 34 touchdowns and becoming the first Ram in history to throw for more than 3,000 yards.   During Aych’s time at Central Missouri, he coached tight end Delanie Walker, who was drafted as a wide receiver in the 2006 NFL Draft after an impressive collegiate career.   Aych spent a season working with the defense at Washington, assisting with the outside linebackers and punters. He coached two Huskies – linebackers Marquis Cooper and Greg Carothers – who signed NFL contracts. Cooper was an All-Pac-10 selection in 2003 and a fourth-round selection of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.   Aych broke into NCAA Division I as part of the Houston staff from 2000-02, working with the running backs, tight ends, and specialists. He coached running back Joffrey Reynolds, who was named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year by The Sporting News.   Aych earned three letters as a wide receiver at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., and was an All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honorable mention selection. He earned a degree in sociology and criminal justice from NSU in 1996.   Aych has two children, Tommy and Katelyn.   Year-By-Year 1995-96 Aberdeen Central HS Assistant Coach 1997 Mesabi Range CC Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 1998-99 Fort Scott CC Asst. Head Coach 2000-02 Houston Offensive Graduate Assistant 2003 Washington Defensive Graduate Assistant 2004-07 Central Missouri Special Teams/Wide Receivers 2011-15 Angelo State Offensive Coordinator/Asst. Head Coach 2016 UTEP Wide Receivers 2017-20 Arizona Wide Receivers/Tight Ends 2021 UTEP Wide Receivers 2022-23 Tennessee State Offensive Coordinator 2024 Marshall Offensive Quality Control Analyst 2025 Oklahoma State Wide Receivers 2026 UTRGV Co-Offensive Coordinator  

Adrian McDonald, who spent the previous two seasons as the defensive backs coach, special teams coach and recruiting coordinator at Midwestern State, joined UTRGV on March 6, 2023 and now serves as pass game coordinator and safeties coach. 2025 McDonald coached freshman defensive back Alijah Prosser to FCS Football Central Freshman All-American honors and senior defensive back Elijah Graham to Phil Steele 2025 FCS Midseason All-American recognition. McDonald helped UTRGV rank second in the FCS and first in the Southland in fumbles recovered (13), 10th in the FCS and first in the Southland in team passing efficiency defense (116.93), 16th in the FCS and third in the Southland in rushing yards allowed per game (119.3), 19th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in total yards allowed per game (328.4), 22nd in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in passes intercepted (12), 22nd in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in tackles for loss per game (6.5), and 34th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in sacks per game (2.25). While serving as recruiting coordinator, McDonald also helped to put together UTRGV’s first two recruiting classes that led to the Vaqueros being the most successful first-year FCS program ever, finishing 9-3. Previously   McDonald competed collegiately at Houston as a safety from 2012-15, the first three seasons of which Bush was on the coaching staff in positions including offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.   During his two seasons at Midwestern State, McDonald mentored the defensive backs, coordinated passing game and coverages, oversaw special teams, and created scouting reports while helping his team to an aggregate record of 13-8, including two wins over top 25 teams.   McDonald spent the previous two seasons (2019-20) as a defensive graduate assistant at Texas State, where he organized game plans and practices in coordination with then-defensive coordinator Zac Spavital, who coached him during his stellar career at Houston and is now Maryland’s safeties coach. McDonald also assisted in developing players during practice, primarily working with corners, safeties, and returners.   McDonald began his coaching career as the defensive backs coach while also serving as a special education teacher at Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena in 2018.   A native of Lawton, Okla., McDonald was a standout defensive back/safety at Houston, earning numerous awards, including recognition as a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and a member of the Wuerffel and Nagurski trophy watch lists, in addition to All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) Second Team, Phill Steele’s AAC Third Team, Dave Campbell’s Preseason Best Defensive Back in Texas, Dave’s Campbell’s Preseason All-Texas First Team, and Athlon Sports and Phill Steele’s Preseason AAC First Team honors while serving as team captain as a senior. McDonald was an All-AAC First Team selection as a junior and ended his career with the Houston career record for interceptions (17) while ranking second in interception return yards (286), third in fumble recoveries (7), and fifth in forced fumbles (7). He put an exclamation point on his career with seven tackles in a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl win over Florida State.   McDonald spent two seasons in the NFL as a practice squad player with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2016 and the Buffalo Bills on 2017.   McDonald graduated from Houston in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. He earned his Master of Education from Texas State in 2021. McDonald and his girlfriend, Dalia Tejo, reside in the Rio Grande Valley.

Mike Barela, who has nearly 30 years of coaching experience, joined UTRGV as the tight ends coach on Jan. 12, 2023 and added run game coordinator to his position for the 2026 season.   2025 Barela coached a tight ends unit that added a strong all-around presence through blocking and offensive prowess. Barela helped sophomore Ismael Smith Flores develop into a player who ranked 60th in the FCS and seventh in the Southland in receiving touchdowns (six) after being a purely defensive player the previous two seasons at Nebraska. Previously Barela’s coaching stops include serving as the offensive line coach at Valdosta State (2022-23), co-offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and tight ends coach at Colorado Mesa (2018-21), tight ends coach, run game coordinator and nickelbacks coach at Incarnate Word (2015-17), offensive and defensive line coach at Kansas High School (2014), offensive line coach, run game coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Northeastern State (2012-13), offensive line coach at Southwestern Baptist (2011), tight ends coach at Texas State (2007-10), director of football operations at North Texas (2002-06), tight ends coach at Sam Houston (2000-01), offensive line coach at Morningside (1999), and graduate assistant coach for the offensive line and tight ends at North Texas (1996-98).   During his time at Texas State, Barela worked with UTRGV head coach Travis Bush, who was the associate head coach, co-offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach from 2007-09.    As the offensive line coach at Valdosta State the last two seasons, Barela’s team posted impressive numbers. This past season, Valdosta State averaged 39 points and 433.6 yards of total offense while ranking fifth in NCAA Division II in passing at 312.2 yards per game and 20th in third down conversion rate at 45.7%. The team went on to finish 12-2, reaching the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals and earning a share of the Gulf South Conference Championship.   The 2022 team averaged 36 points per game while ranking fifth in NCAA Division II in total offense at 475.6 yards per game and 16th in rushing at 213.5 yards per game. The team also ranked second in the nation in sacks allowed per game, giving up just three in 367 pass attempts, and sixth in successful red zone opportunities at 91%, producing 31 touchdowns and 14 field goals in 49 attempts.   Barela helped Colorado Mesa to rank 19th in NCAA Division II in total offense at 452.3 yards per game en route to an 8-2 record in 2021. The team ranked first in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in rushing at 194.8 yards per game one year after averaging 243 rushing yards in three games during the pandemic shortened 2020 season.   In addition to working with tight ends, Barela coordinated the kickoff return unit in 2019, averaging 26.95 yards per return, which ranked third in the nation. The team’s primary returner led the nation with 38.1 yards per return.   Barela’s tight ends also contributed to one of the top offenses in the nation in 2018, as the team averaged 485.2 yards of total offense, including 275.4 yards of passing offense, per game.   Barela helped Incarnate Word to post its first-ever winning record at the NCAA Division I level, going 6-5 in 2015 while the tight ends combined for 42 receptions, 443 yards, and two touchdowns. One of Barela’s tight ends was Cole Wick, who went on to play for the Detroit Lions in 2016 and San Francisco 49ers in 2018.   Barela also coordinated the kickoff return unit in 2017, leading FCS with three touchdowns, and the short yardage/goal line package, converting 21-of-24 (87.5%) trips to the red zone, including 19 touchdowns.   In two seasons at Northeastern State, Barela’s squad rushed for 34 touchdowns while averaging 175.7 yards per game in 2012 and 157.5 yards per game in 2013.   His rush offense was responsible for 20 touchdowns at Southwest Baptist in 2011 and he coached his running backs to four 220+ rushing yard performances.    While at Texas State, Barela was part of a staff that helped establish numerous school records while winning a conference championship (2008). In 2009, the offense ranked seventh nationally in passing (289 yards per game) and 12th in scoring offense (32 points per game). The 2008 offense finished seventh nationally in scoring (36 points per game), and eight in total offense (453.2 yards per game). In 2007, for the first time in school history, the offense produced a 1,000-yard rusher, a 1,000-yard receiver, and a 2,000-yard passer in the same year.     From 2002-06, Barela was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the North Texas football program, a time during which North Texas won three-straight Sun Belt Conference Championships (2002-04).   Barela was part of four-straight conference championships, including the 2001 Southland Conference title at Sam Houston, a season in which the team led the conference in total offense (437.4 yards per game), passing offense (278.8 yards per game), and scoring offense (37.5 points per game). Barela coached First-Team All-America tight end Keith Heinrich, who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2002, playing one seasons there before also playing for the Cleveland Browns (2003-04) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007).   Barela graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from North Texas in 1997. As a student-athlete, Barela was a linebacker who also contributed to special teams. Barela and his wife, Lauren, have two kids – Reece and Hudson.

James Lockhart IV, who spent the last previous seasons as a defensive quality control assistant at Texas Tech, joined UTRGV Football as the outside linebackers coach on Jan. 25, 2024. 2025 Lockhart coached an outside linebackers unit that helped UTRGV rank 22nd in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in tackles for loss per game (6.5) and 34th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in sacks per game (2.25). Lockhart helped junior Ian Box earn all-conference second team honors by ranking 80th in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in sacks per game (0.46) and 98th in the FCS and ninth in the Southland in fumble recoveries. Previously Lockhart also has coaching experience as a defensive graduate assistant at Baylor from 2020-21 after playing for Baylor (2017-19) and Texas A&M (2015-16) and participating in 2020 NFL training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers.   During his time at Texas Tech, Lockhart worked directly with the outside linebackers. During his time on the staff at Baylor, Lockhart helped the team to the 2021 Big 12 Championship and a victory over Ole Miss in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Baylor finished 2021 12-2, the winningest season in program history.   As a defensive end at Baylor, Lockhart helped to lead his team to two bowl trips, including the Allstate Sugar Bowl as a senior. He appeared in 27 games during his Baylor career, starting in all 14 games of the 2019 campaign. Lockhart was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as a senior after totaling 31 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss and 6.0 sacks. Baylor finished 11-3 overall and 8-1 in Big 12 play that season, reaching the Big 12 Championship game.   As a junior, Lockhart finished with 11 tackles (7 solo), 3 tackles for a loss and 1 sack. He also earned his first of back-to-back Big 12 Conference All-Academic Second Team awards. Lockhart was also a member of the Spring 2017 Big 12 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll while redshirting the season.   At Texas A&M, Lockhart totaled 12 tackles (5 solo), including 1 for a loss, in 16 games across two seasons. He was a 2016 SEC All-Academic selection.   Originally from Ennis, Lockhart earned a Bachelor of Science in Health, Kinesiology & Leisure Studies from Baylor in 2019 before adding a Master of Science in Sport Pedagogy in 2021.   He played high school football at Ennis High School, leading his team to the 2014 state championship by recording 142 tackles, including 19 for a loss, 14 sacks, 20 quarterback pressures, and five forced fumbles while earning U.S. Army All-American, All-State Honorable Mention, Dallas Morning News Dallas Area Defensive Player of the Year, and District 16-5A MVP and Defensive MVP honors. As a junior, Lockhart registered 122 tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles while earning his first All-State Honorable Mention recognition. He also had 105 tackles and seven sacks as a sophomore. Lockhart and his wife, Amalia, reside in the Rio Grande Valley.

Nathan Langford, who spent the previous three seasons as the head football coach and athletic director at Luling High School, joined UTRGV football as defensive coach on Nov. 15, 2023.   2025 Langford coached a defensive line helped UTRGV rank 14th in the FCS and third in the Southland in points allowed per game (18.8), 16th in the FCS and third in the Southland in rushing yards allowed per game (119.3), 19th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in total yards allowed per game (328.4), 22nd in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in tackles for loss per game (6.5), 32nd in the FCS and third in the Southland in fewest first downs allowed (221), 34th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in sacks per game (2.25), and 40th in the FCS and third in the Southland in red zone defense (79.3%). Previously Langford previously worked with Bush at Seguin High School as an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2016-20. Langford played at Texas State from 2004-07, during which time Bush was on the coaching staff, and at San Marcos High School, including a freshman year in 2000 when Bush was part of the coaching staff.   During his time at Luling, Langford took a program that had gone three seasons without a win and earned a victory in his second game, earning Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Team of the Week honors. In 2021, Lulling led Langford to its first playoff appearance in eight years and his squad was ranked Dave Campbell’s Eighth Most Improved Defense by a First Year Head Coach.   Luling took another step forward in 2022, posting more points than any Luling team since 2013 while allowing its fewest points since 2015 and posting the program’s first winning record since 2013.   While at Seguin from 2015-20, Langford helped his team earn Dave Campbell’s Sixth Most Improved Defense in the state in 2018 en route to the team’s first of two 5A District Championships during his tenure. One of Langford’s accomplishments was helping to end a 12-year playoff drought at Seguin.    Langford was a 2006 All-Southland Conference Second Team Defensive End as a junior before earning Preseason All-Southland honors while serving as team captain as a senior at Texas State. He also earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors as a junior and Southland Academic Honor Roll recognition during his final three seasons. As a senior, Langford earned Texas State’s Jim Wacker “Unbelievable” Award, an award that recognizes a Bobcats football player who displays outstanding motivational, inspirational and leadership skills.   Originally from San Marcos, Langford graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from Texas State in 2009 before earning a Master of Education in Coaching & Sports Administration from Concordia in 2020. Langford and his wife, Krisstian, have two children – Jazlyn Rose and Michael.

Marco Regalado, who spent the previous two seasons as the executive director of player personnel & recruiting innovation at Rice, joined UTRGV on November 27, 2023 and is currently serving as running backs coach. 2025 Regalado oversaw a running game that helped UTRGV rank sixth in the FCS and first in the Southland in points per game (39.6) and 21st in the FCS and second in the Southland in rushing yards per game (188.3). Regalado coached senior running back Nathan Denney to a Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week award (Sept. 8) and two honorable mentions (Nov. 10 and 24). Denney ranked 36th in the FCS and second in the Southland in rushing yards per game (73.8), 44th in the FCS and second in the Southland in all-purpose yards per game (101.89), 74th in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in rushing yards per carry (4.68), 87th in the FCS and third in the Southland in rushing yards (884), and 159th in the FCS and 13th in the Southland in total yards per game (73.8). Regalado coached freshman TJ Dement to rank 145th in the FCS and 10th in the Southland in rushing touchdowns (5). While serving as recruiting coordinator, Regalado also helped to put together UTRGV’s first two recruiting classes that led to the Vaqueros being the most successful first-year FCS program ever, finishing 9-3. Previously   Regalado helped Rice sign their highest-rated recruiting class ever according to 247Sports, with three members of the 2023 recruiting class ranking among the top eight in 247Sports’ database to ever sign with Rice. He also helped bring a strong Texas presence to Rice, signing 14 players from the state.   This past summer, Regalado gained experience with the Jacksonville Jaguars as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.   Regalado was named to FootballScoop’s Minority Watch List/Rising Stars in 2022 and the 247Sports 30 Under 30 Coaches List in 2021.   Prior to joining Rice, Regalado spent one year at Washington State, where he was promoted twice in less than one year. Regalado started as a recruiting assistant, was elevated to director of on-campus recruiting, and then promoted to director of recruiting. During Regalado’s tenure, Washington State won the Apple Cup with a victory over arch-rival Washington, appeared in the Sun Bowl, and doubled the number of recruits from Texas in 2022 from the previous year’s class.   Regalado spent the 2020 season as the running backs coach/recruiting coordinator at V.R. Eaton High School in Fort Worth, helping the team to its best season in school history with a 9-4 record while a pair of his running backs combined for over 2,000 yards of total offense.   He was the special teams coordinator/linebackers coach at PSJA Memorial in 2019 and worked in a variety of roles at Mathis High School in 2018. Regalado also spent two seasons at Santa Gertrudis High School in Kingsville from 2016-17, helping the team to win its first district title in 2016.   Regalado began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M-Kingsville, coaching on defensive line from 2014-16.   Originally from Zapata, Regalado earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science from Texas State in 2014, where he founded and served as president of the Texas State club football team which played semi-pro teams in Texas. He earned his Master of Education in Educational Administration from Texas A&M-Kingsville in 2016.

A graduate of McAllen High School, Gunnar Henderson joined UTRGV as a graduate student wide receivers coach in the fall of 2025, was promoted to the full time position of wide receivers coach in June 2025, and then to pass game coordinator in Feb. 2026 after playing in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship game with TCU. 2025 Led a receivers unit that ranked 15th in the FCS and first in the Southland in passing yards per completion (13.72) and 24th in the FCS and second in the Southland in passing yards per game (246.9). Coached Tony Diaz to Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention, FCS Football Central and Stats Perform Freshman All-American honors, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football All-Texas Non-FBS Second Team recognition, seventh place in the Jerry Rice Award voting, Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, All-Conference First Team recognition, two National Freshman of the Week Honorable Mentions (Nov. 17 & Oct. 27), and Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 17). Diaz ranked sixth in the FCS and first in the Southland in receiving touchdowns (11), 14th in the FCS and third in the Southland in receptions per game (5.67), 32nd in the FCS and second in the Southland in receiving yards (875), 34th in the FCS and third in the Southland in receiving yards per game (72.9), 44th in the FCS and second in the Southland in total touchdowns (11), 102nd in the FCS and eighth in the Southland in total points scored (66), 103rd in the FCS and eighth in the Southland in scoring (5.5), 146th in the FCS and 10th in the Southland in all-purpose yards per game (72.83), and 180th in the FCS and ninth in the Southland in yards per receptions (12.87). Coached Xayvion Noland to rank fourth in the FCS and first in the Southland in yards per reception (22.46), 39th in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in receiving touchdowns (7), 43rd in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in receiving yards (831), 46th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in receiving yards per game (69.3), 101st in the FCS and sixth in the Southland in all-purpose yards per game (82.67), 136th in the FCS and 10th in the Southland in total touchdowns (7), 165th in the FCS and 14th in the Southland in kick return yards (161), and 174th in the FCS and 14th in the Southland in receptions per game (3.08). Previously In two seasons at TCU, Henderson saw time at wide receiver and on special teams, making 13 receptions for 235 yards and two touchdowns in 26 games. A two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree, Henderson averaged a team-best 20.3 yards per completion as a senior before competing in the New Orleans Saints’ 2023 rookie minicamp.   Henderson began his collegiate career at Incarnate Word, helping his team to the 2018 Southland Conference Championship. He was elevated to team captain as a sophomore while earning Academic All-Southland Conference honors. While at McAllen, Henderson was an offensive most valuable player, all-region and all-district wide receiver as a junior and senior. He was also a three-time all-district return specialist and, as a sophomore, an all-district defensive back.   Henderson graduated from TCU in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies.

Josh Jones, who was the defensive backs coach with the San Antonio Brahmas the previous two seasons, joined UTRGV as the cornerbacks coach on Feb. 11, 2026.   Jones brings more than a decade of coaching experience to UTRGV, having also served as the secondary coach and NFL liaison at The Citadel (2023), safeties coach and recruiting coordinator at Northwestern State (2021-22), defensive backs coach at Arkansas Pine Bluff (spring 2021), and cornerbacks coach at South Alabama (2018-20), Central Arkansas (2016-17), and Henderson State (2015).   Jones helped the San Antonio Brahmas to a big first season in the UFL, as the team tied for the XFL Conference Championship by going 7-3 while finishing runner up in the league. Jones helped San Antonio’s defense rank first in the UFL in total defense (256.7 yards per game), scoring defense (15.3 points per game), sacks (32), and touchdowns allowed (12).   During the 2025 season, Jones earned a spot with the Green Bay Packers coaching staff through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, giving Jones an opportunity to assist with the Packers’ off-season program and minicamp.   While at The Citadel, Jones not only developed and coached the defensive backs, but communicated with NFL scouts and personnel, assisted with special teams, and had recruiting territories that included two in Texas – Dallas and San Antonio.   While at Northwestern State, Jones helped PJ Herrington become one of the top playmakers in the Southland Conference, as he earned 2022 all-conference second team defense, defensive back, and punt returner honors.   In his lone season at Arkansas Pine Bluff, Jones helped to mentor Jalon Thigpen to first-team all-conference honors after leading the SWAC in passes defended.   No stranger to developing defensive backs, Jones coached a pair of defensive backs to All-Sun Belt honors in his three seasons at South Alabama. Darian Mills earned all-conference honors after ranking second in pass break-ups, while a year later, Travis Reed had 10 pass break-ups and three interceptions on his way to all-conference laurels.   The play of Jones’ cornerbacks helped the Jaguars post a top 50 performance nationally in passing defense. Jones also earned 2021 AFCA 35 Under 35 honors.   Jones followed head coach Steve Campbell to South Alabama after spending two seasons together at Central Arkansas, where Jones helped the Bears produced a 20-5 overall record and a 17-1 conference mark, capturing the 2017 Southland Conference Championship.   In each of his two seasons with the Bears, Jones produced an All-American, as Tyler Williams garnered the honor in 2016 and Tremon Smith did so in 2017. Both went on to play in the NFL.   Jones spent the 2015 season coaching cornerbacks at Henderson State, molding a defense that led all divisions with 29 interceptions. Tavares Garner earned First-Team All-Great American Conference notoriety as the Reddies went 11-2 and reached the NCAA DII playoffs.   Before joining the Henderson State staff, Jones was a graduate assistant at Troy, Missouri Western State, and Arkansas Tech.   As a player, Jones was an All-American safety at both Minnesota State Moorhead and Harding. While at Harding, he was invited to play in the Cactus Bowl (DII Senior All-Star Game) and was the Little Rock Touchdown Club Player of the Year.   At MSU Moorhead, Jones broke the school record for interceptions with 10 as a sophomore, tying him for second nationally. He also holds MSU Moorhead’s school record for longest punt return touchdown at 94 yards.   A 2013 professional studies graduate of Arkansas Tech, Jones played one season with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League and one with the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football League, helping the Blizzard reach the conference championship game.   Jones is engaged to Cheri Lindsay, the head volleyball coach at Memphis.

Mike Hudson, who has over 30 years of collegiate coaching experience, joined UTRGV as an analyst on July 28, 2025 and moved into the special teams coodinator role for the 2026 season.   Most recently, Hudson served as the defensive analyst at Montana, helping the Griz to the second round of the 2024 FCS Playoffs. In 2023, Hudson helped UT Martin to the Big South-OVC Championship as an offensive line assistant.   The bulk of Hudson’s coaching experience was at Texas State, where he worked for 18 years on the defensive side of the ball. He began his coaching career as a student coach (1987-89) before transitioning into a graduate assistant (1990-91). After departing the program, he later returned to coach the linebackers from 1995-2000, which coincides with UTRGV head coach Travis Bush’s time as a student-athlete, before becoming the Bobcats defensive coordinator in 2001-02. Then following additional stops, he returned once again to coach the Texas State defensive line from 2011-15.   Hudson found strong success as associate head coach at Montana (2005-10), helping his team to five Big Sky Championships and two berths in the FCS Championship Game. He served as linebackers coach (2010), secondary coach (2008-09), running backs coach (2005-08), and director of operations (2009) as well.   Hudson was the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Sam Houston during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, helping the team to the semifinals of the 2004 NCAA FCS Playoffs.   Hudson was an assistant coach at Trinity during the 1992 and 1993 seasons before becoming the defensive line coach at New Mexico in 1994. He was also a defensive assistant at Rice in 2017 and 2018.   Hudson earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at UTSA in 1994. Born in Bryan, Texas and raised in San Antonio, Hudson played college football at Angelo State in 1983 and 1984. The Rams won a Lone Star Conference championship in 1984.

John Simmons, a former football chief of staff at Rice who played for UTRGV head coach Travis Bush on the inaugural UTSA team in 2011, was hired as the Vaqueros’ first director of football operations & administration on Jan. 27, 2023.   In Simmons’ role with the Vaqueros, his day-to-day responsibilities will include a myriad of duties related to helping build and sustain the operations of the UTRGV football program by working closely with Bush and UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque.   Simmons comes to UTRGV from Canyon Middle School in New Braunfels, where he was the athletics director and head football coach this past season, a position in which he worked with Bush, who held the same position at Canyon High School.   Simmons has extensive experience in Division I college football, joining UTSA for the practice year in 2010 before playing as a quarterback and wide receiver for three years. He was then a football operations intern during the spring of his senior year.   Simmons joined Rice as the assistant recruiting coordinator and events specialist in July 2014, serving in that role for four years before spending two years as the chief of staff.   After one year as an enterprise solutions analyst at Indeavor, Simmons returned to coaching with Pieper Ranch Middle School in the spring of 2021 before joining Canyon.   Rice (2014-19)   In his six seasons at Rice, Simmons’ duties included recruiting, operations, player personnel, player development, fundraising, marketing, and public relations. Rice saw their recruiting department flourish – signing two record-breaking classes, including the highest-rated recruit in program history.   The Owls also excelled in the classroom, ranking in the top 10% of all FBS programs in graduation success rate, setting two program records for highest team grade point average, earning the American Football Coaches Association Academic Excellence Award, and ranking fourth in the FBS in academic progress rate.   On the field, Rice developed numerous NFL players, with nine still active, and the team won the 2014 Hawaii Bowl. Simmons led and planned trips to Sydney, Australia for a game against Stanford in 2017, and twice took the team to Honolulu, Hawaii (2014 & 2018).   During his time working for Mike Bloomgren (2018-19), Simmons served as chief of staff, providing administrative oversight for the program, and directing support to the head coach. Simmons oversaw all non-coaching activities, including, personnel and staffing, recruiting, academics, community outreach programs, summer camps, and all other day-to-day operations. Simmons served as the football program’s liaison to the university administration and all other units within Rice Athletics. He also played a key role in fundraising and outreach for the program while coordinating football alumni communications.   Simmons played an integral role in the 2016 facilities upgrade of the Brian Patterson Sports Performance Center. The project included a 60,000 sq ft. football building in the north end zone at Rice Stadium. His roles included the coordination of fundraising efforts of former Rice football players. From 2015 through the completion of the project, Simmons represented the football team in the design process of the locker room, players’ lounge, weight room, coach’s offices, and recruiting lounge. In Simmons’ first year at Rice, he worked as the right-hand man of head coach David Bailiff (2014-17) and served as the assistant recruiting coordinator and events specialist. In that role, Simmons was responsible for the day-to-day recruiting operations. This included organizing all official and unofficial visits to campus, monitoring prospect information, developing seasonal recruiting campaigns, and coordinating the head coach’s recruiting activities. Simmons was responsible for events such as the international clinic, women’s clinic, lettermen luncheon, golf tournaments, freshmen onboarding, and several functions with high school coaches.   Other duties include game day management for coaches' families and recruits, community outreach, the coordination and planning of team events related to the football program, the annual team awards banquet and special projects, walk-on process, and the admissions procession for all incoming students.   Playing Career   A 2014 graduate of UTSA with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations, Simmons walked on to the inaugural UTSA team as a quarterback before shifting to wide receiver and earning a scholarship during his final season in 2013.   Originally from New Braunfels, Simmons was a four-sport lettermen at New Braunfels High School in football, basketball, swimming & diving and track & field. He twice led the football team to the state semifinals as a quarterback, earning All-District 26-5A honors as his team finished 11-4 as a senior. He was also a two-time 5A District Champion in the 300-meter hurdles and a state finalist as the anchor of the 4x400-meter relay as a senior. Personal Simmons and his wife, Anna, reside in the Rio Grande valley.

Bruce Bush joined UTRGV Football as the director of high school relations in January 2024. He has been in the coaching profession for 42 years; 34 years as head coach and athletic director; 12 of those years in the Coastal Bend area and nine in the Rio Grande Valley.   Bush began his coaching career at Sweeny High School in 1970. He then moved to Port-Neches as a varsity assistant, winning the State Championship in 1975 by defeating Odessa Permian 20-10 in Texas Stadium.   He then took his first head coaching job at Dimmitt in the Texas Panhandle and led them to their first district championship in 15 years. From there, Bush went to Livingston, in East Texas, for four years.   He came to the Rio Grande Valley in 1981 when he became the head coach at PSJA High School. In the two years at PSJA, Bush led the Bears to two district championships, two playoff appearances and a record of 19-3.   In 1983, Bush moved on to Alice to coach the Coyotes from 1983-89. He led the Coyotes to three district championships, five playoff appearances, and a record of 51-17-1.   In 1989, Bush became the head coach at Gregory-Portland, coaching the Wildcats from 1989-95. He led the Wildcats to three district championships, six playoff appearances, going to the state semifinals in 1989 and 1992, and a record of 59-19-2. After leaving Gregory Portland, Bush coached in Donna for two years before moving to San Marcos, in Central Texas, coaching from 1997-2005 and leading the Rattlers to two district championships, seven playoff appearances ,and a record of 68-24. In his first year as coach, San Marcos went to the playoffs for the first time in 31 years.   In 2005, Bush retired, but not for long. He returned to coaching in 2006 as offensive coordinator at George West, assisting Coach Davenport in 2006 and 2007. The Longhorns finished his second season 9-3 as Bi-District champs and Area finalists.   Bush retired again in 2007, but once again came out of retirement in 2008 to accept the Head Football Coach/Athletic Coordinator job at PSJA North. In 2008, the Raiders were District Co-Champs, Bi-District Champs, and had a record of 8-4. Bush was also named Coach of the Year for 2008. In 2009, the Raiders were District Runner up, Bi-District Champs, Area Champs and lost to New Braunfels in the Regional Playoffs in the Alamo Dome. The Raiders ended with an 11-2 record. In 2010 the Raiders had a 7-3 season. In 2011, the Raiders ended with a 7-4 record, losing in Bi-District, and in 2012, the Raiders were 5-5. His five-year record at PSJA North was 38-18.   Bush finished his head coaching career with a 271-112-7 record, making 24 playoff appearances in 34 years.   In July of 2015 Bush received the greatest honor of his lifetime, being inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor.   Honors: Corpus Christi Caller Times South Texas Coach of the Year Alice, 1983 Gregory-Portland, 1989 Gregory-Portland, 1992   All Metro Coach of the Year Gregory-Portland, 1989 Gregory-Portland, 1992   Big Sisters YMCA Coach of the Year Alice, 1985 Gregory-Portland, 1989 Gregory-Portland, 1992 Gregory-Portland, 1994   31-5A Coach of the Year PSJA North, 2008   2005 Inductee, Coastal Bend Coaches Association Hall of Honor   2011 Inductee, Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame   2022 Inductee, Alice ISD Coyote Hall of Honor   Bush was a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association Board of Directors (1987-90), Coastal Bend Coaches Association Board of Directors (1991-92), and the Texas Coaches Association All-State Selection Committee (1982-83).   In 1999-2000, Bush worked with the UIL to develop the summer weight and conditioning programs that Texas high schools are allowed to have today.   Bush is married to the former Ida Palacios of Mercedes and has three children, Bebe Ramirez, Travis Bush, and Niki Peters. He also has 6 grandchildren Marco, Alexa, Treyson, Tyler, Wesley, and Aly.

Ben Cox joined UTRGV as the football video coordinator during the summer of 2024 after three seasons as part of the football staff as Utah Tech, during which time he served as both video coordinator and an assistant in equipment operations. His responsibilities included recording practice and uploading footage to Hudl, cutting and tagging video, sharing video with coaches and players, coordinating with other teams regarding items such as video exchange and game day setup, training new video assistants, and assisting in ordering new equipment. Cox graduated from Utah Tech, then known as Dixie State, earning a Bachelor of Science in Media Studies in May 2021.