UTSA to hire Larry Coker as Head Football Coach

[dbackjon]

UTSA could have their first head football coach by as early as this Friday. Sources close to the process tell News 4 WOAI's Don Harris that it will be former Miami Coach Larry Coker.

News 4 WOAI has learned that the interview process ended on Tuesday. Coker, Tulsa's Paul Randolph, and Mel Tjeerdsma from Northwest Missouri were all in town for interviews this week.

UTSA Athletic Director Lynn Hickey would not confirm that Coker is the choice saying that a decision on the coach has not been made. She said she will not rush to get a deal done. However, Hickey added "if things come together quickly an announcement could come as early as Friday." News 4 WOAI spoke with Coker by telephone Tuesday night. Coker said "I hope that is true, but I have not had anyone from the school contact me yet". I hope to hear something soon".

UTSA would like to do that because it would be ideal to introduce the new coach before students go on spring break.
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/UT ... s6gHw.cspx

[slycat]

Seems like a good choice

[pantherrob82]

They'll be in the SLC? Wish we could add some new teams in our area. UNO, a MN school or something.

[dbackjon]

Yup - in the SLC

[Fresno St. Alum]

UTSA will be in the SLC for a couple years then bolt for the Sun Belt as soon as they can with that 64,000 seat stadium.

[dgreco]

UTSA will be in the SLC for a couple years then bolt for the Sun Belt as soon as they can with that 64,000 seat stadium.

CUSA? Especially if the east splits off around 2011, if the shakeup I think happens-happens...

[Fresno St. Alum]

I hope the C-USA splits but I don't know. Is TT still telling you it will? If somehow C-USA went to 14 UTSA & S.Alabama or Charlotte would be at the top of the list.

Dgreco, I got your e-mail but I don't go on ags anymore. I quit last feb. except for 3 posts about Fresno St. winning the Baseball Championship

[slycat]

I hope the C-USA splits but I don't know. Is TT still telling you it will? If somehow C-USA went to 14 UTSA & S.Alabama or Charlotte would be at the top of the list.

Dgreco, I got your e-mail but I don't go on ags anymore. I quit last feb. except for 3 posts about Fresno St. winning the Baseball Championship

TT says it won't. Texas St would really like to get in CUSA if they can.

[slycat]

Texas St and UTSA getting a conference together would make a great rivalry.

[Col Hogan]

My daughter is a grad student at UTSA...she called me tonight to talk about this...

She says her fellow grad students are excited about this hire...but the undergrads that she teaches and works with in the lab are not that excited about football coming...

Got me to thinking...if the school will have the student support at the begining...

[CatMom]

Sit back and have a beer folks.

First, UTSA has to field a team. They will not just all of a sudden be in the SLC. They have to petition and be accepted by the other SLC schools. If this happens they have to spend a year or two (or more like UCA) in FCS purgatory. It is already out there that their intent is to go FBS. It is an issue that, already knowing this, will the SLC allow them in if they are stating they only want this as a stepping stone to the FBS? Could present issues and force UTSA to go independent.

Secondly - San Antonio is not a big football city. It has the population to support but rarely has. All the pro or semi-pro football teams there have folded in 5 yrs or less. They may have a big old 64,000 seat stadium but if you only get 4 - 5k to attend, routinely, that is not as big a plus as it sounds. That city wants and supports only one form of football - FBS. They are first, and foremost, UT-Austin fans and supporters. This is part of TxSt's dilemma. We are smack dab in the middle of those 2 cities.

Last - Coker is no so great a coach as his name recognition elicits.

[dbackjon]

CatMom - I think name recognition was what UTSA was going for...

[Fresno St. Alum]

the NW Missouri coach is a better coach but none of you have probably heard of him. I believe the SLC has to let UTSA play football in the conference because they are already a conference member. If Texas only supports FBS then UTSA is doing what they think will bring in fans. I wouldn't compare college with a generic semi-pro football league. I'd watch Campbell vs Marist before I'd watch any semi-pro title game.

[Fresno St. Alum]

You guys that care about conference re-alignment and other college sports new should go to CollegeSportsinfo.com.

Chris don't worry I always tell them to go to your site for the best FCS news. I told them to post a link your site from their site. I hope they do or did already.

[slycat]

You guys that care about conference re-alignment and other college sports new should go to CollegeSportsinfo.com.

Chris don't worry I always tell them to go to your site for the best FCS news. I told them to post a link your site from their site. I hope they do or did already.

Interesting website. I'm pretty sure Texas State owns the rights the name of the Southwest Conference. It is a much more likely scenario that that join a conference that would come from a CUSA split over the Sunbelt.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Sly its 2011 There is no C-USA split, what does Texas St. do?

A) stay in the SLC
B)FBS indy
C)hope for a Sun Belt invite

[TwinTownBisonFan]

In doing some reading it appears that Texas Tech has at least got all of the record books and materials that once belonged to the Southwest Conference... I can't imagine a scenario where a conference that ended in scandal like that would be allowed to reemerge just yet.

As for UTSA... don't they suffer from the South Florida/Charlotte/Cal St. Fullerton "commuter school" problem?

that can be brutal for a school trying to build a football program.

[slycat]

Sly its 2011 There is no C-USA split, what does Texas St. do?

A) stay in the SLC
B)FBS indy
C)hope for a Sun Belt invite

Great question. My guess if SLC won't keep them is go Indy. The school is shelling a lot of money into expansions of athletic facilities for us to stay put and be happy.

[slycat]

In doing some reading it appears that Texas Tech has at least got all of the record books and materials that once belonged to the Southwest Conference... I can't imagine a scenario where a conference that ended in scandal like that would be allowed to reemerge just yet.

As for UTSA... don't they suffer from the South Florida/Charlotte/Cal St. Fullerton "commuter school" problem?

that can be brutal for a school trying to build a football program.

UTSA hasn't proved themselves yet and will have to start in the SLC if they will let them. Otherwise things will get very interesting.

[Fresno St. Alum]

TTBison we are a cotmmuter school we do well (can't beat Boise anymore though) S.Florida does well too.