After five seasons the man who started the Roadrunners’ program, Larry Coker, is gone and first time head coach Frank Wilson is now at the helm. Wilson is trying to lead UTSA to its first winning season in three years, and only its third in program history.
Wilson has spent most of his recent years in the SEC as a running backs coach, so recruiting in Texas is a familiar task. Wilson and his coaches started their recruiting trail with their “Storm on San Antonio” as Wilson called it. Wilson and nine of his coaches went around to 90 plus schools looking to create a new atmosphere in San Antonio and make it a UTSA hotbed for recruits.
“That relationship has continued to grow over that time and what we try to do is be good listeners and listen to prospective student athletes and paint a map for them. They tell us what they are trying to achieve, and we see how it fits within our program and then we illustrate how they can attain it,” Wilson said. “With that we foster a relationship that we hope withstands the test of time, when some other schools that may be considered larger schools or larger conferences come in, and our relationship is sincere enough that we hang in there and it gives us a chance to get some of these quality athletes that in other times have gone to other schools.”
Wilson likes where the team is at, but notes that the team has to continue the depth a good team needs. He knows this is a process and that it will take several consecutive good recruiting classes.
“There hasn’t been anything that has been an element of surprise,” Wilson said on what has been unexpected as being a head coach.
Wilson feels very prepared that his past experiences have him ready for to lead the Roadrunners.
Wilson and the Roadrunners will get a break compared to last year with their scheduling. Last year UTSA started off with Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Kansas state to open the season. This year Alabama State and Colorado State are the first opponents for the team.
