UTRGV Football welcomes new faces 

The UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics expanded its football program staff with four additions to the team in January.

The new hires include James Lockhart IV as outside linebackers coach, Mike Barela as tight ends coach, Chris Brasfield as wide receivers coach, and Marcus Coleman as special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach.

Head coach Travis Bush said everyone was picked for a reason.

“We’ve tried to go recruit the best,” Bush said. “I’ve known these guys. I know what they’re about. Our mentalities are aligned with how we want to build the program. How we want to teach. The things we want to build and our goals to building young men … all of them bought into the vision here and could see the plan for facilities and the resources to make this thing successful and really enjoy what the [Rio Grande] Valley has to offer.”

Bush said Lockhart is one of the youngest in the staff.

“[We are] excited to give him an opportunity,” he said. “We were looking for that last spot and knew it was a spot for a young guy and someone who had experience in the position and could relate to players well.”

Bush said Lockhart stood out for spending time playing at The University of Texas A&M and Baylor University, then getting coaching experience as a graduate assistant at Baylor and in a training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Brasfield said his connection to the head coach goes back to when he was at Texas State University in 1999 and it was a no-brainer to go work with him.

“I know how good of a person he is,” he said. “I know how smart he is. I know how good of a coach he is.”

Brasfield said he has gathered experience working at multiple institutions going back to 1996 at Midwestern State University as a receivers coach.

He also has experience in recruiting, saying he likes that side of football as well.

“The recruiting phase has always been fun because it’s all about relationships and getting to know people,” Brasfield said. “And I am an extrovert type personality. So, that is something that I enjoy. I enjoy getting to know people and connecting with people. Making people feel comfortable, welcome. The biggest thing I enjoy doing is getting people to connect with the purpose.”

He said he looks forward to helping build the program.

“So many people want to see [the football program] work and have invested time and resources into it,” Brasfield said. “So, it’s going to be great when it all comes together and we actually get to see some of the fruit of that labor.”

Coach Barela has had stints at multiple institutions such as Valdosta State University, Colorado Mesa University and University of the Incarnate Word. He also has ample experience coaching his position. In a Jan. 12 news release, Barela said he was excited to join UTRGV and the coaching staff.

The release quoted him as saying, “To be a part of this brand-new endeavor, starting a football program from day one is incredible.” 

Coleman has 11 years of experience playing in the NFL, six with the New York Jets, four with the Houston Texans and one year with the Dallas Cowboys.

He said he was a technical player and would emphasize fundamentals and technique with the players.

“I would say having a high football IQ is important,” Coleman said. “Having guys that can process things and understand what we’re doing. You have to have those, whether it’s special teams or playing defensive backs. I think the thing with special teams that I do feel, like, is important, is the guys that want it the most. Honestly, special teams is all about will and effort for the most part. There is only so many schemes you can really run.”

As the first head coach for the Indoor Football League Tucson Sugar Skulls, Coleman has previous experience with a new football program.

“We kind of built that thing from the ground up,” he said. “I understand what it takes. Also, obviously, I was excited that this particular area kind of deserves a football team.”