UTRGV head coach Travis Bush knew the perfect candidate when he began searching for a Director of High School Relations. Heck, he used to live with the man. That guy is Bush’s father, Bruce, a legendary Texas high school football coach and a member of the Texas Coaches Association Hall of Honor, the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame, and the Coastal Bend Coaches Hall of Fame.

“We didn’t have to look far to find a Director of High School Relations…..when you have a RGV legend and @THSCAcoaches Hall of Honor member living four miles from campus,” Bush wrote in a post on Twitter announcing the addition of his father to the Vaqueros staff. “This man gave me my first job out of college…only fitting I give him his last.”

A native of Nederland, Bruce won 271 games during his 34 years as a head coach. He made two appearances in the state finals as coach of Gregory-Portland in 1989 and 1992 and led his teams to the playoffs 24 times with twelve district titles. Known for his ability to coach the vaunted Slot-T offense, Bush is no stranger to the Rio Grande Valley, having spent time as a head coach at PSJA, Donna, and Pharr North.

Travis Bush has spent the offseason putting together his coaching staff with the Vaqueros, who will play a practice season in 2024 before playing an FCS schedule in 2025 as members of the United Athletic Conference. UTRGV is signing its first recruiting class in program history and made some notable additions during the early signing period in December.