SAN ANTONIO – UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor announced Tuesday that he has hired former Texas high school coach Joe Price III as Director of Player Personnel.
Among Price's many responsibilities with the Roadrunners are initial identification and evaluation of prospects, managing prospect video and database, oversight of the day-to-day recruiting operations, organization of recruiting events and material and assisting with roster management.
Price joins 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).
Price earned his bachelor's degree in business management from Harding in 2009 and a master's degree in education leadership/administration from Stephen F. Austin in 2017.
He is a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association, the American Football Coaches Association and the Greater Houston Area Football Coaches Association, where he served a secretary on the executive board of directors.
Price's father, Joe Price Jr., was a high school coach in Texas for over 30 years. He and his wife, Joy, have two daughters, Ryan and Jordan.
- UTSA -
