(Photo: Jeff Huehn, UTSA Athletics)
Former UTSA offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Justin Burke was always going to join Will Stein's coaching staff in some capacity, but now it is known he will serve as tight ends coach. Stein's initial coaching staff, at least in terms of designated recruiters, is now complete.
Burke, a Lexington native, was Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. He played quarterback at NC State for two years before transferring to rival Louisville. There, he was in the same quarterback room as Stein.
Charlie Strong hired him as a graduate assistant at Louisville in 2011. His career path ran parallel to Strong at spots like Texas and South Florida until he was hired at UTSA. Burke had been an offensive assistant when he first joined the Roadrunners but would also coach special teams, tight ends and quarterbacks before being named offensive coordinator in 2023. In total, he spent six of his 15 seasons coaching college football in San Antonio.
He now takes over for for Derek Shay who moved on for a job at Texas A&M this offseason.
The tight end room returns Willie Rodriguez, Henry Boyer, Mikkel Skinner and Elijah Brown. Port Huron (Mich.) Northern tight end Lincoln Watkins also signed as part of the 2026 recruiting class.
In addition to Burke, Stein has hired Joe Sloan (offensive coordinator), Jay Bateman (defensive coordinator), Kolby Smith (running backs), Joe Price II (wide receivers), Cutter Leftwich (offensive line), Anwar Stewart (defensive line), Tony Washington Jr. (pass rushers), Allen Brown (cornerbacks) and Josh Christian-Young (safeties).