UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor on Thursday named Joe Price as the program’s wide receivers coach. The former UTSA Director of Player Personnel fills the vacant position left open by Will Stein, who was elevated to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Jan. 8.
"I’m thrilled to announce Joe Price as our wide receivers coach,” Traylor said. “Joe has done a phenomenal job helping to elevate the program from a recruiting and roster management perspective since he joined our staff two years ago. As one of seven THSCA coaches on our staff, he cut his teeth as a receivers coach for one of the top high school programs in the state of Texas in Galena Park North Shore, and he was a standout wide receiver in college. I have no doubt he will be a great leader and continue to develop players for that position group.”
Price spent the last two seasons as UTSA’s Director of Player Personnel, where he was responsible for initial identification and evaluation of prospects, managing the prospect video database, oversight of the day-to-day recruiting operations, organization of recruiting events and materials and assisting with roster management.
In his first year in San Antonio, the Roadrunners posted a 7-5 overall record, registered a runner-up finish in Conference USA’s West Division with a 5-2 mark and earned a spot in the First Responder Bowl.
In his second season with the program, UTSA finished with a 12-2 record to set the school record for most wins and best winning percentage in a season. The Roadrunners were nationally ranked (as high as No. 15) for the first time in school history and captured their first league title by winning the C-USA Championship with a 49-41 victory over WKU. UTSA capped the season with its second straight and third overall bowl appearance against San Diego State in the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl.
Price joined UTSA after spending the 2019 season as the Director of High School Relations for the Illinois football program. During his one year in Champaign, the Fighting Illini won six games and made their first bowl appearance since 2014 when they played California in the Redbox Bowl.
Prior to his time at Illinois, Price spent 10 years as a high school coach in the Galena Park Independent School District. In addition to his coaching duties, he also was responsible for a variety of football operations, including fundraising, summer camps, serving as a liaison to college coaches, developing a website and producing highlight videos for college-bound athletes.
Price was the passing game coordinator, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at perennial prep powerhouse North Shore High School from 2014 to 2018. He helped the Mustangs to a pair of Class 6A-DI state championships and four district titles during his time with the program. During his time on the staff, North Shore saw more than 75 players advance to the collegiate level.
In 2018, North Shore was named national champion by MaxPreps after posting a perfect 16-0 record and outscoring opponents 854-199, winning by an average margin of 41 points per game. North Shore capped its title run by beating Duncanville, 41-36, on a Hail Mary pass as time expired at AT&T Stadium.
Price got his coaching start in 2009 as an assistant coach, video coordinator, player development coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Galena Park High School.
A native of Houston and former standout at Aldine Nimitz High School, Price played football at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., where he was one of the top wide receivers in school history. A team captain as a senior in 2005, he ended his career ranked third in career receptions (121), eighth in career receiving yards (1,404), and ninth in receptions per game (2.88).