Travis Bush was named the first head coach in program history on Dec. 12, 2022 and earned a contract extension following the 2025 season to keep him in the Valley through at least 2030.
Inaugural Season
Bush finished sixth among 15 finalists for the 2025 Eddie Robinson Award voting, which honors the FCS coach of the year after guiding the Vaqueros to a historic inaugural season, finishing with a 9-3 overall record, making them the winningest of 11 inaugural FCS programs since Division I college football split into two levels in 1978. No other team had ever won more than seven games or six while playing a schedule including NCAA Division I competition. The Vaqueros won their final three games, making them one of 11 teams in the FCS to close the season on a winning streak of at least 11 games.
UTRGV became the first inaugural team to win six games against NCAA DI-AA (1978-2005)/FCS (2006-Present) competition and the only inaugural team to go undefeated at home, as the Vaqueros finished 7-0 and are finished the season as one of nine FCS teams on a home winning streak of seven of greater.
UTRGV became just the second programs to receive votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll at any point during its inaugural season and the only program to earn more than two points or receive votes in multiple weeks, receiving votes nine times.
UTRGV is the first inaugural program to score at least 17 points in all its Division I games and the only one to score at least 17 points in all games while playing a schedule that includes NCAA Division I competition. UTRGV is also the only team to score 60+ points three times and 50+ points four times.
The Vaqueros had two of the nine-highest scoring halves in the FCS this season, with 52 points in the first half vs. Langston on Sept. 13, which is fourth, and 49 points in the first half vs. Sul Ross State on Aug. 30, which is tied for fifth.
The Vaqueros also had two of the 35-highest scoring quarters in the FCS this season, with 31 points in the second quarter vs. Langston on Sept. 13, which is tied for fifth, and 28 points in the first quarter on Aug. 30, which is tied for 12th. The FCS leader was Idaho State with a 42-point quarter vs. Lincoln on Sept. 20.
UTRGV set a record for largest margin of victory by a brand new program, beating Langston 80-0 in week 3. UTRGV is one of two new teams to score 80 points, along with South Florida (1997), who beat Kentucky Wesleyan 80-3 in week 1.
UTRGV finished the season ranked 26
th in the FCS with a +6.1 scoring margin.
UTRGV became one of four programs to win its first game against an NCAA Division I opponent, doing so at Prairie View A&M 27-21 in week 2.
While new programs typically play at least one year as an independent before jumping into conference play, UTRGV finished its inaugural season 5-3 in the Southland Conference, tying for third place with Lamar, which made the FCS Playoffs. UTRGV’s only losses were to playoff teams on the road, including No. 7 seed Stephen F. Austin and No. 16 seed Southeastern.
UTRGV finished the season ranked 32
nd in the Massey Ratings.
UTRGV led the Southland in 15 statistical categories, ranking first in the FCS in blocked kicks allowed (0), blocked punts allowed (0), and fumbles lost (1), second in fumbles recovered (13), third in turnover margin (1.33), fifth in turnovers lost (9), sixth in defensive touchdowns (4) and points per game (39.6), seventh in turnovers gained (25), eighth in team passing efficiency (165.62), 10
th in team passing efficiency defense (116.93), 15
th in passing yards per completion (13.72), 18
th in total yards per game (435.2), 23
rd in fewest penalties (61) and fewest penalties per game (5.08), and 28
th in sacks allowed per game (1.50).
The Vaqueros’ lone fumble lost was on a muffed punt in the inaugural game. UTRGV nad Brown were the only two teams in the FCS to only lose one fumble all season. The Vaqueros did not lose an offensive fumble. None of the Vaqueros’ penalties were defensive substitution penalties, showing UTRGV’s exceptional preparation, communication, and discipline.
UTRGV is also 14
th in the FCS and second in the Southland in winning percentage (.750), 14
th in the FCS and third in the Southland in points allowed per game (18.8), 16
th in the FCS and third in the Southland in rushing yards allowed per game (119.3), 19
th in the FCS and second in the Southland in punt return defense (5.05), 19
th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in total yards allowed per game (328.4), 20
th in the FCS and third in the Southland in net punting (39.41), 21
st in the FCS and second in the Southland in rushing yards per game (188.3), 22
nd in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in passes intercepted (12), 22
nd in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in tackles for loss per game (6.5), 24
th in the FCS and second in the Southland in passing yards per game (246.9) and third down conversion percentage (45.0%), 24
th in the FCS and fourth in the southland in kickoff return defense (18.19), 28
th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in red zone offensive conversions (86.5%), 29
th in the FCS and second in the Southland in tackles for loss allowed per game (4.67), 31
st in the FCS and third in the Southland in completion percentage (64.1%), 31
st in the FCS and third in the Southland in fewest penalty yards (555), 32
nd in the FCS and third in the Southland in fewest first downs allowed (221), 34
th in the FCS and third in the Southland in fewest penalty yards per game (46.25), 34
th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in sacks per game (2.25), and 40
th in the FCS and third in the Southland in red zone defense (79.3%).
Awards
Bush guided the Vaqueros to an impressive number of awards throughout the inaugural season and postseason, as UTRGV was one of only three FCS programs to have finalists for FCS Coordinator of the Year, the Walter Payton Award, the Jerry Rice Award, and the Eddie Robinson Award, along with Tarleton State, the No. 4 seed in the FCS Playoffs, and Mercer, the No. 6 seed in the FCS Playoffs.
Senior quarterback
Eddie Lee Marburger finished tied for 25
th in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, which honors the FCS offensive player of the year.
Wide receiver
Tony Diaz finished seventh in the voting for the Jerry Rice Award, which honors the FCS freshman of the year, while linebacker
Jaiden Haygood finished 11
th.
Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach
Jeff Bowen was one of nine finalists for the FootballScoop FCS Coordinator of the Year Award, presented by Teamworks.
UTRGV had the most selections to the FCS Football Central Freshman All-American Team with four, including Diaz, Haygood, offensive lineman
Nick Hughes, and defensive back
Alijah Prosser. Diaz and Haygood were also on the Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-America Team while Diaz earned Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention.
UTRGV added three honorees on the Dave Campbell’s All-Texas Non-FBS Teams, with Marburger earning offensive player of the year and first team honors while Diaz and junior punter
Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling earned second team honors.
UTRGV also had a pair of Phil Steele 2025 FCS Midseason All-Americans in Noland and senior defensive back
Elijah Graham, while sophomore kicker
Brysen Gardner made the Fred Mitchell Award Midseason Watch List, making him one of 38 kickers being looked at as the top kicker in the FCS.
The Vaqueros racked up seven all-conference honors, the fourth most of any team in the Southland, as Marburger was named newcomer of the year and Diaz earned freshman of the year. Both were also first team selections. Hughes was on the second team, joined by Wallace-Dilling and junior defensive end
Ian Box.
The Vaqueros were also regulars among the Southland Conference weekly honorees, as senior running back
Nathan Denney (Sept. 8), Marburger (Oct. 27), and Diaz (Nov. 17) each earned outright offensive player of the week awards while Marburger (Sept. 1) and Denney (Nov. 10 and 24) each added honorable mention appearances. On the defensive side, Graham earned honorable mention once (Sept. 15) as well.
Nationally, Marburger earned Offensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention once (Oct. 27) and Diaz earned Freshman of the Week Honorable Mention twice (Oct. 27 and Nov. 17).
Previously
Bush came to UTRGV with 14 years of NCAA Division I college and eight years of high school coaching experience in Texas, plus one season of NFL coaching experience, in addition to significant ties to the Rio Grande Valley.
Collegiately, Bush held positions including assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and running backs coach at Houston from 2012-14, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UTSA from 2010-12, associate head coach, co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach at Texas State from 2004-10, and assistant offensive line coach and graduate assistant at TCU from 2001-04.
Bush helped to start the UTSA program from scratch and was in a similar situation to the one in which he currently finds himself at UTRGV, using 2010 as a practice year before winning four games with a team made up almost entirely of freshmen in 2011.
Bush has been the head football coach and athletic coordinator at Canyon High School in New Braunfels for the last two years. He held the same positions at Seguin High School from 2016-21. He was also a running backs and quarterbacks coach and special teams coordinator at San Marcos High School in 2000-01.
Bush worked for the Buffalo Bills in 2015 as an offensive assistant coach, working with running backs and compiling advanced game plan studies.
Bush is the son of 2011 RGV Sports Hall of Fame and 2015 Texas High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Honor inductee and former Pharr North (2008-11), Donna (1995-96) and PSJA (1981-82) football coach
Bruce Bush.
Travis Bush’s parents and older son, Treyson, live in McAllen. Bush’s mom, Ida (Palacios), is originally from Mercedes. Bush’s wife, Diana (Garcia), who goes by “Dee,” grew up in McAllen and went to McAllen Memorial High School. The Bushes also have a younger son, Tyler.
Travis Bush spent two years in the Valley as a kid while his father was the head coach at PSJA during the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
Bush turned around the Canyon program this season by leading the football team to its first nine-win regular season in 17 years and second in 27 years while making its second playoff appearance in nine years. He developed the top wide receiver in Texas 5A and the District 12-5A Offensive MVP while seeing his team set a program record for most academic all-district awards with 42. After a week two victory, Bush was named coach of the week by the Hispanic Texas High School Football Coaches Association.
Bush rebuilt the Seguin program as well, leading the football team to its first district championship and Texas state playoff appearance in 12 years in 2018 and then winning the 2020 district championship as well. His coaching staff was the first at Seguin to win multiple district titles in 27 years. In 2020, Seguin averaged a program record 52 points per game while featuring the most academic all-district players of all time with 30.
While at Houston, Bush helped to lead his team to the 2014 Armed Force Bowl Championship by running a multiple spread, up-tempo offense. He also ran an air raid offense in 2012 and 2013, doing all the play calling after week one in 2012. He consistently recruited players from the Valley, Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio while going nationally to find quarterbacks as well. His 2014 quarterback,
Greg Ward, finished eighth in the nation in pass completion percentage. Bush’s 2012 offense finished 10
th in the nation in pass offense and 18
th in total offense.
Bush was the wide receivers coach at Texas State for his first three seasons, helping his team to the FCS Semifinals in 2005 after winning the Southland Conference Championship with an 11-3 record. Bush was promoted to associate head coach/co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the 2007-09 seasons, leading his team to the No. 25 ranking in the nation in 2009. Bush implemented a multiple spread offense, and the 2009 team ranked eighth in the nation in pass offense and 12
th in total offense while quarterback
Bradley George earned Southland Conference Player of the Year honors. The 2008 team won the Southland Conference Championship en route to the FCS playoffs while ranking fourth in the nation in scoring offense and fifth in total offense. George was sixth in the nation in pass efficiency. The 2007 team ranked 19
th in the nation in total offense.
Bush started his collegiate coaching career with TCU, helping his team to three-straight bowl appearances. In 2002, TCU won the Conference USA and Liberty Bowl Championships. During his final two seasons, TCU went a combined 21-4.
Bush’s first coaching job was with San Marcos High School in 2000-01, when he helped his team to an 11-1 record and a district championship before finishing as a regional finalist.
Bush played collegiately at Texas State as a wide receiver from 1995-99, serving as the special teams captain in 1999. He graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science with certifications in math and physical education. Bush completed his Master of Education Administration at TCU in 2003.
Bush was a three-year varsity letterwinner and all-state quarterback while serving as team captain at Gregory-Portland High School. He also lettered in varsity track & field for three years while competing in varsity golf for one season.
Bush is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA), the Hispanic Texas High School Football Coaches Association, and the Texas High School Athletic Director’s Association.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT TRAVIS BUSH
UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor
UTRGV hired the perfect fit with Travis Bush. Travis is an exceptional football coach with deep ties in Texas. He and his father, Bruce, have been part of the THSCA for many years, and the Bush name is very well respected across the state. He also has experience in starting a program, as he did here at UTSA. UTRGV hired the right man for the job, and I look forward to seeing Travis take that program to great heights.
Current Texas Special Assistant to the Head Coach Gary Patterson
Coach Bush has always been successful at anything he has done. Travis is a hard worker, great recruiter, and a people person with great leadership ability with Texas high school ties. Great hire!
San Francisco 49ers Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Anthony Lynn
I’ve known Travis for a decade. He’s a man of high character and integrity. He is a great example and leader to young men. He comes from a rich football background and brings a wealth of knowledge with him from helping to launch the football program at UTSA. Coach Bush has a broad understanding of how to build a culture that will always compete and get the most out of players on and off the field.
Florida Atlantic Head Coach Tom Herman
UTRGV hit a home run with Travis Bush! He’s not only a phenomenal coach, but he’s proven himself as a great recruiter and leader in this profession. His connections with Texas high school coaches and the Rio Grande Valley make him a perfect fit for the job!
Former Texas State, Rice, and Texas A&M-Commerce Head Coach David Bailiff
Travis is a very dynamic young coach who builds relationships with his players and peers. He has grown up in the game and has extensive knowledge in game planning and strategy. Travis is a great coach, but an even better person, husband, and dad. He puts people first.
Former UTSA Quarterback Eric Soza
Coach Bush took a genuine interest in me as a player and person. He helped mold me to not only be the best quarterback I could be, but more importantly, he helped mold me into the man I am today. He has been a mentor for me as a player and coach. As a player, I was excited to execute the game plan week in and week out. As a coach who worked with him, I saw a man who put his heart and soul into his work each and every day.
Former Texas State Quarterback and 2022 Texas State Hall of Honor Inductee Bradley George
I can’t count how many coaches I had over roughly 25 years involved in athletics in multiple sports, but Coach Bush is hands down the one that I learned the most from and respect the most. I think I speak for plenty of his former players that it was truly an honor and a blessing to play for him at Texas State. There were many offensive school records broken in my time there but none of them would have occurred if Coach Bush wasn’t the man behind the scenes setting his players up for success. I would still to this day follow him if he asked me to.
Mississippi State Running Backs Coach Jason Washington
I’m excited to see what my lifelong friend, Coach Bush, will build at UTRGV. He has an innovative mind for the game combined with high energy and a commitment to building relationships with players and the community. Coach Bush is a touchdown hire. The future is bright for UTRGV!
TRAVIS BUSH YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORDS
|
|
|
Overall |
|
Conference/District |
| Year |
School |
Position |
W |
L |
% |
W |
L |
% |
|
| 2000 |
San Marcos High School |
RB/QB Coach/Special Teams Coordinator |
11 |
1 |
.917 |
5 |
0 |
1.000 |
District 26-4A Champions
Regional Finalist |
| 2001 |
TCU |
Graduate Assistant/Assistant Offensive Line Coach |
6 |
6 |
.500 |
4 |
3 |
.571 |
GalleryFurniture.com Bowl |
| 2002 |
TCU |
Graduate Assistant/Assistant Offensive Line Coach |
10 |
2 |
.833 |
6 |
1 |
.857 |
Conference USA Champions
Liberty Bowl Champions |
| 2003 |
TCU |
Graduate Assistant/Assistant Offensive Line Coach |
11 |
2 |
.846 |
7 |
1 |
.875 |
Fort Worth Bowl |
| 2004 |
Texas State |
Wide Receivers Coach |
5 |
6 |
.455 |
3 |
2 |
.600 |
|
| 2005 |
Texas State |
Wide Receivers Coach |
11 |
3 |
.786 |
5 |
1 |
.833 |
Southland Conference Champions
FCS Playoffs |
| 2006 |
Texas State |
Wide Receivers Coach |
5 |
6 |
.455 |
3 |
3 |
.500 |
|
| 2007 |
Texas State |
Associate Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach |
4 |
7 |
.364 |
3 |
4 |
.429 |
|
| 2008 |
Texas State |
Associate Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach |
8 |
5 |
.615 |
5 |
2 |
.714 |
Southland Conference Champions
FCS Playoffs |
| 2009 |
Texas State |
Associate Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach |
7 |
4 |
.636 |
5 |
2 |
.714 |
|
| 2010 |
UTSA |
Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Practice Year |
| 2011 |
UTSA |
Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach |
4 |
6 |
.400 |
|
|
|
|
| 2012 |
Houston |
Offensive Coordinator/RB/QB Coach |
5 |
7 |
.417 |
4 |
4 |
.500 |
|
| 2013 |
Houston |
Assistant Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/RB Coach |
8 |
5 |
.615 |
5 |
3 |
.625 |
BBVA Compass Bowl |
| 2014 |
Houston |
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach |
8 |
5 |
.615 |
4 |
3 |
.571 |
Armed Force Bowl Champions |
| 2015 |
Buffalo Bills |
Offensive Assistant Coach |
8 |
8 |
.500 |
|
|
|
|
| 2016 |
Seguin High School |
Head Coach |
2 |
8 |
.200 |
1 |
6 |
.143 |
|
| 2017 |
Seguin High School |
Head Coach |
2 |
8 |
.200 |
1 |
6 |
.143 |
|
| 2018 |
Seguin High School |
Head Coach |
7 |
4 |
.636 |
6 |
1 |
.857 |
District 12-5A Champions
Bi-District Finalists |
| 2019 |
Seguin High School |
Head Coach |
5 |
6 |
.455 |
5 |
2 |
.714 |
Bi-District Finalists |
| 2020 |
Seguin High School |
Head Coach |
7 |
3 |
.700 |
6 |
1 |
.857 |
District 12-5A Champions
Bi-District Finalists |
| 2021 |
Canyon High School |
Head Coach |
4 |
6 |
.400 |
3 |
4 |
.429 |
|
| 2022 |
Canyon High School |
Head Coach |
9 |
2 |
.818 |
6 |
1 |
.857 |
Bi-District Finalists |
| 2023 |
UTRGV |
Head Coach |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recruiting Year |
| 2024 |
UTRGV |
Head Coach |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Practice Year |
| 2025 |
UTRGV |
Head Coach |
9 |
3 |
.750 |
5 |
3 |
.625 |
First Season of Competition |
| HS |
8 Seasons |
|
47 |
38 |
.553 |
33 |
21 |
.611 |
3 District Championship
5 Playoff Appearances |
| FCS |
8 Seasons |
|
53 |
40 |
.570 |
29 |
17 |
.630 |
2 Conference Championships
2 FCS Playoff Appearances |
| FBS |
5 Seasons |
|
48 |
27 |
.640 |
30 |
15 |
.667 |
2 Bowl Championships
5 Bowl Appearances |
| NFL |
1 Season |
|
8 |
8 |
.500 |
|
|
|
|
| TOTAL |
24 Seasons |
|
156 |
113 |
.580 |
92 |
53 |
.634 |
|
