Coker to make appearance in the Valley

McALLEN — Current Texas-San Antonio and former University of Miami football coach Larry Coker will make an appearance tonight at Jackson’s All-American Sports Bar & Grill in McAllen.

The event, which begins at 5 p.m., is in advance of a football camp the Roadrunners program will hold Friday at PSJA Stadium in Pharr. The camp is open to players entering 10th through 12th grade with registration starting at 8 a.m.

Coker’s appearance is also to raise awareness among UTSA grads living the Valley about the school’s football program, which will begin playing next year in the Football Championship Subdivision. Two former Valley standouts (McAllen High’s Scott Inskeep and Nick Garza) have already signed to play with the Roadrunners as part of the school’s first class of players.

Before coming to UTSA, Coker spent six seasons (2001-2006) coaching the Miami Hurricanes. In his first season after replacing Butch Davis, Coker led the Hurricanes to a 12-0 record and an undisputed national championship after routing Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. The next season, Coker’s Hurricanes won their first 12 games before suffering an upset at the hands of Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, costing Miami its second consecutive national title.

Coker’s offensive coordinator with the Roadrunners is Travis Bush. Bush is the son of current PSJA North coach Bruce Bush.

Brian Sandalow covers high school sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via e-mail at bsandalow@themonitor.com.