UTRGV REPORT
EDINBURG — It’s official.
UTRGV vice president and director of athletics Chasse Conque announced the hiring of Travis Bush as the first head football coach in program history Monday, another keystone moment as the Vaqueros charge full speed ahead with bringing Division I football to the Rio Grande Valley. Bush will build the UTRGV football program from the ground up and start with a practice season in 2024 before officially competing in its first season in 2025.
Bush has deep ties to the Rio Grande Valley and brings with him 14 years of NCAA Division I experience, eight years of high school coaching experience and one year spent coaching in the National Football League.
“Growing up in and around the Rio Grande Valley, I am extremely humbled and honored to be a part of history at UTRGV. There is no better place to start a Division I college football program in America right now than the Valley,” Bush said in a UTRGV news release. “When you look at the leadership in place with President Guy Bailey and Chasse Conque, the amazing team they have surrounded themselves with, and the plan they have put together to start this program, things are in place to do this better than it’s ever been done before. I am beyond excited and can’t wait to get down there and join the Vaqueros family.”
Bush will be introduced to the public and the media at a press conference at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at HEB Park in Edinburg. The event is open to the public. The press conference will also be streamed live via the @GoUTRGV on Twitter.
Bush is the son of Bruce Bush, a 2011 RGV Sports Hall of Fame and 2015 Texas High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Honor inductee and who served ashead coach as PSJA High in 1981-82, Donna High in 1995-96 and PSJA North from 2008-2011.
The younger Bush spent two years living in the Rio Grande Valley growing up while his father was head coach at PSJA High.
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.
“We wanted someone who could check all the boxes, and Coach Bush checked so many boxes that we had to add more,” UTRGV president Dr. Guy Bailey said. “We’re excited to bring college football to the Valley, and I want to congratulate Chasse Conque and his team for finding the perfect coach to lead that charge.”
Bush’s stops at the collegiate levels include assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and running backs coach at Houston from 2012-14, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas at San Antonio (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 Texas Christian (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.
Most recently, Bush has spent the last two years as football head coach and athletic coordinator at New Braunfels Canyon. He held the same position at Seguin High School from 2016-2021. He was also a running backs and quarterbacks coach and special teams coordinator at San Marcos High School in 2000-01 working under his father.
Bush worked for the Buffalo Bills in 2015 as an offensive assistant coach, working with running backs and compiling advanced game plan studies.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Bush, Dee, Trey, and Ty to the UTRGV family. Travis gives us a unique opportunity to hire a coaching veteran in the state of Texas with both statewide ties and strong connections to the Rio Grande Valley,” Conque said. “His experiences at both the college and high school levels, combined with his roots and love for the Rio Grande Valley, make him a perfect fit to help start and lead our football program. Coach Bush comes highly recommended, having worked with outstanding coaches throughout Texas at stops such as TCU, Texas State, Houston, and UTSA. Our program will benefit greatlyfrom Coach Bush’s experience helping to launch the Division I program at UTSA, as well as his strong recruiting ties throughout Texas. This is yet another milestoneday for UTRGV and Vaqueros Athletics. Coach Bush is the perfect person to help us build our program and #RallyTheValley for years to come.”
Bush turned around the New Braunfels Canyon program this season by leading the football team to its first nine-win regular season in 17 years while making itssecond playoff appearance in nine years. He developed the top wide receiver in Texas in Class 5A and the District 12-5A Offensive Most Valuable Player 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. 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 10th in the nation in pass offense and 18th 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 ConferenceChampionship 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 12th in total offense while quarterback Bradley George earned Southland Conference Player of the Year honors. The 2008 team won the Southland ConferenceChampionship 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 19th 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 FootballCoaches Association, and the Texas High School Athletic Director’s Association.
Season ticket deposits for the inaugural season of UTRGV football will be accepted starting Thursday at UTRGVTickets.com. The Vaqueros will take the field for their first season of competition in 2025.
Coaches with Texas ties across the collegiate level shared their thoughts on Bush’s hiring as the first head football coach at UTRGV.
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.”
Former UTSA and Miami Head Coach Larry Coker
Coach Bush is the perfect person for this job. He is a hard worker with a great football background and was instrumental in launching our program at UTSA.
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!
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