RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) head football coach Travis Bush announced on Wednesday the hiring of Josh Jones, who was the defensive backs coach with the San Antonio Brahmas the last two seasons, as the new cornerbacks coach.
 
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).
 
"We're excited to complete our coaching staff for 2026 and get Josh on board." UTRGV head coach Travis Bush said. "He is a seasoned coach with a proven track record at many levels and extensive knowledge on the defensive side of the ball. His coaching experience with defensive backs and special teams, along with his recruiting connections in California and across the nation, will add immediate value."
 
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.
 
"I'm really excited to join the UTRGV football program and thankful to Coach Bush and [Assistant Head] Coach [Brian] Gamble for the opportunity," Jones said. "The Valley is a special place with strong community support, and you can feel that energy around the program. I'm looking forward to working with a great staff and group of players as we keep building on the early success here."
 
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.

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