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UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor will be one of the hottest names in college football this offseason. The success he’s had in San Antonio has led to his consideration for a number of high-profile jobs.
With a busy coaching carousel set to begin after the season, Traylor was asked about the speculation surrounding his departure from the program. He gave a powerful message about the overall impacts that coaching changes can have, but he didn’t necessarily say, “No,” to the possibility of accepting a new gig.
Traylor has been with the Roadrunners for four seasons, posting a 37-13 overall record. For reference, UTSA had just 41 wins in program history prior to his arrival.
Taking over at a school that finished below .500 in five of its eight seasons at the FBS level, he’s been able to guide his team to three straight bowl games and two conference titles.
After going 7-5 in Year 1, his squad’s posted back-to-back double digit wins with a third potentially in store for 2023. UTSA is an incredible 26-3 in league play with Traylor at the helm, with a spotless 6-0 mark this year after transitioning to the AAC.
But how much longer will he stay at the Group of Five level? The more he’s linked to prominent programs, the more likely it seems that he could take the next step in his career.
Texas A&M shortlist likely includes Jeff Traylor.
The Aggies parted ways Jimbo Fisher midseason, despite his $75+ million buyout. While many on the outside aren’t feeling sorry for Fisher, who will continue to be one of college football’s highest paid coaches, Traylor had a different perspective on the news of his firing.
He gave a powerful message about the program-wide impacts of coaching changes this week when asked about the situation in College Station.
“It’s always sad when you see any coach get let go of,” Traylor said in a recent media appearance. “People like to talk about it, and it’s almost sickening because they don’t understand the ramifications that go through the entire building. It’s always sad.”
.@CoachTraylor addresses his name being linked to Texas A&M pic.twitter.com/Jrx4yk99VF
— JJ Perez (@theJJPerez) November 13, 2023
Jeff Traylor’s case for the Aggies.
Traylor is ALL Texas. He started his career as a high school coach, building his alma mater Gilmer into a powerhouse. The Buckeyes won three state titles under Traylor’s leadership and played for two more.
The success led to a move to college football, though he wouldn’t venture far from the Lonestar State. He was on staff at Texas, Arkansas, and SMU as an assistant before taking the UTSA gig.
Given his local ties and the reputation of being a strong recruiter in the Texas area, it’s natural to see his name pop up on Texas A&M’s watchlist. He said as much in that previous interview.
What he didn’t say was that he was definitively removing his name from consideration. While he did note the immense impacts of staff changes, he never said, “No,” when asked about the TAMU job.
“Jeff Traylor definitely did not shoot the idea down of being Texas A&M’s next head football coach.”
“It almost sounded like he was giving his resume.”
“The fortunate/unfortunate part of having success as a coach. Can’t fault him to have an open ear to the conversations.”
It’s not the first time he’s been linked to P5 jobs. Texas Tech and TCU gave the head coach a look in 2021, resulting in a contract extension from UTSA.
The Aggies, however, are a different beast.
Deep pockets would give Traylor every resource he needs, and competing in the SEC would offer a leg up on the recruiting trail. The move would also get him closer to his East Texas roots, where that recruiting reputation could shine through even further.
Texas A&M might be in the market for a “splash hire,” opting to stick to the big names on its board. While Traylor doesn’t boast the fanfare nationally of others in consideration, his success speaks for itself.