Andy
UTSA coach Jeff Traylor has interviewed for the Texas A&M coaching vacancy.
The interview took place earlier in the week on a 90-minute Zoom call with Aggies athletic director Ross Bjork, as Texas A&M seeks a replacement for Jimbo Fisher, who was fired after his sixth season leading the program.
Traylor, 55, was listed as part of the initial pool of candidates for the Texas A&M job, alongside Duke coach and former Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko.
Traylor is in his fourth season guiding UTSA and has a 37-13 record since he arrived in 2020. The Roadrunners won back-to-back Conference USA championships under Traylor from 2021-22 and are currently 7-3 in their first season as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the week, Traylor said it was not surprising to hear his name linked to the opening at Texas A&M, attributing the speculation to the success his team has had in recent years. The Austin-American Statesman first reported Traylor’s interview with Texas A&M on Thursday evening.
Traylor, a Gilmer, Texas native, has a successful coaching career in the state, having compiled a record of 37-13 at UTSA, making him the winningest all-time coach at a school that only began sponsoring football in 2011. He signed a $28 million extension with UTSA through 2031 in 2021.
Traylor has also had coaching experience in high schools, most notably at Gilmer High School, where he led the team to three Class 4A Texas state championships over a 15-year span.
Traylor’s success in Texas positions him as a strong candidate for Power Five job
The coaching carousel’s spinning wild in Texas, y’all! UTSA’s very own Jeff Traylor jumped into the hot seat, eyeing the Texas A&M head coaching gig. You heard it right – the Austin American-Statesman’s got the scoop that Traylor and A&M’s athletic boss, Ross Bjork, had a Zoom chinwag on Tuesday. Ninety minutes of screen time – that’s a serious convo.
Now, the plot thickens with Duke’s head honcho and former A&M defensive wizard, Mike Elko, also in the mix.
Traylor’s been the talk of the town since A&M showed Jimbo Fisher the door, with a jaw-dropping $77 million handshake to boot.
After UTSA’s practice on Monday, Traylor faced the music about the A&M chatter. He’s like, “Hey, when you’re winning, people talk.” And win he has – leading UTSA to back-to-back Conference USA titles. That’s what you call making noise!
Traylor’s like a Texas coaching legend, from his days making Gilmer a powerhouse to turning UTSA into a force. He says, “Winning brings whispers,” and he’s right. With 21 seniors playing their hearts out, speculation’s bound to bubble up.
The Roadrunners are cruising on a six-game victory lap in the American Athletic Conference. Traylor’s message to his squad? Rumors are part of the game, but we’re here to play and chase that third straight crown.
Remember last October? Traylor penned a 10-year, $28-million deal with UTSA. Bailing out would cost him a cool $7 million, dropping to $6 mil on New Year’s Day.
Traylor’s been a game-changer for UTSA since December 2019. From a humble seven-win max to a 37-13 record and two Conference USA crowns. And hey, they’ve even flirted with the national top 25!
But there’s more to the story – no bowl wins or toppling ranked teams yet. And this season? After a 1-3 nonconference start, UTSA’s rocking a perfect 6-0 in the AAC, alongside Tulane and SMU.
This Friday’s showdown with South Florida at the Alamodome? It’s huge. If UTSA wins, it sets up a season finale in New Orleans against Tulane, with championship dreams on the line.
