Just one day after Will Stein was named the head coach at the University of Kentucky, the former UTSA football offensive coordinator added the current Roadrunner offensive coordinator Justin Burke to fill the same role in Lexington. 

Burke took over as offensive coordinator in 2023 following Stein’s departure, and the UTSA offense saw an uptick in production. In 2024, the ‘Runners racked up 5,882 yards as an offense, which was third-best in program history. While there was an increase statistically and Burke had some leeway in his first season without star quarterback Frank Harris, 2025 was supposed to serve as the team’s rise back into contention for an American Conference championship — but it wasn’t, not even close. 

Instead, UTSA took a step back offensively. 

The Roadrunners limped to their second consecutive 6-6 season, with a chance to match their 7-6 2024 record pending a win over their undetermined bowl opponent. Though junior quarterback Owen McCown and underclassmen wide receivers Devin McCuin and David Amador II statistically improved, it didn’t amount to wins, and ultimately, that is what fans really care about. Fans will not remember that McCown saw a two-touchdown increase from 2024 to 2025; they will remember that, through three seasons in the American, the team has just one road-conference win. So, with back-to-back underwhelming seasons, something has to give. 

Fans have been calling for the firing of either Burke or defensive coordinator Jess Loepp since the Roadrunners’ disappointing loss to Texas State University in the team’s home opener this year. Both have been terribly inadequate. 

Despite all that, there was still speculation that head coach Jeff Traylor would retain his coordinators and staff in 2026 — a decision that would be the final nail in the coffin for the program.

Luckily for UTSA fans, Stein has left Traylor without the option to bring back Burke. What is important, though, is that Traylor extends his search for a new offensive coordinator outside of the program. As of now, associate head coach for offense/tight ends Hunter Rittiman is slated to call plays in the team’s bowl game. While Rittiman has been with the program since 2018, UTSA needs a veteran coordinator with a solidified playstyle that can steady the offense. Under Stein, the Roadrunners were one of the best passing offenses in the country. Burke’s tenure is marked by its lack of identity and consistency. 

An intriguing candidate for the ‘Runners’ coordinator vacancy is former Colorado State University head coach Jay Norvell, who UTSA faced head on earlier this year in Fort Collins. Norvell has NFL coaching experience on top of serving as the offensive coordinator for multiple Power Four programs, such as the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

It will likely be some time before a replacement is named, but Traylor cannot afford to fumble this process. If he wants people to buy into his program, he needs better production on the gridiron; that starts with improving upon himself and his staff.