SAN ANTONIO — UTSA head football coach Frank Wilson announced Wednesday that he has hired Eric Henderson as the Roadrunners' defensive line coach, Jeff Kastl as wide receivers coach and Ryan Pugh as offensive line coach.
Henderson comes to the Alamo City from Oklahoma State, where he has served as a graduate assistant and quality control coach since 2013.
“Eric has always been driven with a purpose," Wilson said. "His long-term view of what he wants has allowed him to excel as a college player, coach and mentor to young men. People are attracted to his personality and his spirit to capture the moment. He is truly a rising star in the midst of coaches. I have seen Eric Henderson recruit first-hand and can tell you he is a relentless recruiter who connects with young men very well.”
The 33-year-old New Orleans native spent his first two years in Stillwater working as a graduate assistant before transitioning to a defensive quality control coach this past season. He was regarded as one of the Cowboys' top recruiters during his tenure, specifically with student-athletes from the state of Louisiana.
During his three years at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys posted a combined 27-12 record and made three bowl appearances. Henderson helped tutor defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, who earned All-American accolades and was named Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.
"In all decisions, I first let the power of prayer be my biggest guide," Henderson said. "Years ago when I was a player at Edna Karr High School, which had Coach Wilson on the staff, I still recall some of the lessons and words he left with me that allowed me to grow as a player and a man. I thank God for now blessing me with the opportunity to be an addition to a staff and program in which I can now use this platform to go out and leave those same impressions on young men across the country. I not only know Frank Wilson as a coach but as a friend, mentor, guidance counselor and excellent leader of young men. The city of San Antonio and the UTSA family will be more than happy with the direction Coach Wilson will lead us."
Henderson began his coaching career as a defensive assistant at Georgia Military College in 2012, where he coached the outside linebackers and secondary. He helped the team to a 7-4 record and an appearance in the CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl.
A three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference defensive end at Georgia Tech from 2003-05, he set the school's career record for tackles for loss with 59.5 and finished with 175 tackles, 25 sacks, eight pass breakups and seven forced fumbles.
Henderson spent three years in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2006-08 after being signed as an undrafted free agent. He also spent three years (2009-11) with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League, helping the team win a pair of league championships.
He earned his bachelor's degree in management from Georgia Tech in 2005 and is working toward his master's degree in educational psychology from Oklahoma State.
Kastl brings nine years of coaching experience to San Antonio, including a stint as offensive analyst at LSU in 2015. Working closely with the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks, he helped the Tigers to a 9-3 record that was capped with a 56-27 win against Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl and a No. 16 final ranking.
"Jeff has coached at Central Michigan, Ashland University, Auburn, Michigan and LSU," Wilson said. "Having worked with Jeff at LSU, I recognize his value. He is a former quarterback at Michigan and he understands the big picture. In the summer of 2015, Jeff was thrust into an increased role at LSU due to a brief illness to our offensive coordinator. Our entire staff at LSU took note of the way Jeff responded. His professionalism, his ability to teach and his work ethic will be a strong asset to our players and coaches. You’re going to hear Jeff Kastl’s name in this profession for a long time.”
"My family and I could not be more excited to join Coach Wilson's staff at UTSA," Kastl said. "He has proven to be a tremendous mentor and leader of men, and I am looking forward to the energy and enthusiasm he will bring to San Antonio. In our previous time together it was evident how much he endeared himself to his players, and I have no doubt the San Antonio community will follow suit in a short time. UTSA presents an amazing opportunity for students, student-athletes and coaches alike to thrive in a vibrant, tradition-rich city that cherishes the game of football. I am eager to meet the many faces of the UTSA family and get to coaching our young men.”
Kastl was a defensive analyst at Michigan for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. There, he helped the Wolverines to 12 wins and the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in 2013.
In 2012, Kastl was a graduate assistant coach at Auburn, where he worked with the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Kastl spent three seasons at Ashland, an NCAA Division II program in Ohio. He was the offensive coordinator and also tutored the quarterbacks and wide receivers for the 2011 season, helping the Eagles lead the nation in least interceptions thrown. Prior to that, he spent two years serving as the recruiting coordinator and running backs/tight ends coach.
He got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan in 2007, where he spent two seasons with the Chippewas. He helped lead the team to a conference championship in his first year on the staff.
Kastl played quarterback at Michigan in 2002-05, helping the Wolverines to a pair of Big Ten titles during his career. He was the U of M Athletic Academic Achievement Award winner all four years and earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades as a senior.
The Clinton Township, Mich., native earned his bachelor's degree in sports management and communications from Michigan in 2006 and his master's degree in sports management from Michigan in 2009.
He and his wife, Kate, have one daughter, Maeve.
Pugh joins the UTSA staff after spending last year as a graduate assistant coach at LSU, where he worked on the same staff as Wilson.
“Ryan is a former All-SEC player and All-American who set all the blocking schemes for Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton," Wilson said. "He has been a part of a National Championship team at Auburn, so he knows what it takes to become a champion. Ryan has gained valuable coaching experience at Auburn, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati and LSU. This guy is a winner. He is the son of coach. It’s in his blood. He was raised with a whistle around his neck. In the way that he has advanced in this profession, it’s a testament to that. His experience, ability to relate to players and attention to detail will be great assets to our offensive lineman. Ryan Pugh is hungry for success.”
In his one season at LSU, Pugh helped the Tigers to a 9-3 campaign that finished with a 56-27 win against Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl and a No. 16 final ranking.
"My wife and I are extremely excited to have the opportunity to join Coach Wilson and the UTSA family," Pugh said. "I believe in the vision Coach Wilson has for the UTSA football program and cannot wait to join in the effort of bringing championships to UTSA. Coach Wilson is more than just a great coach, he is a great man and one I fully believe in. I cannot wait to hit the ground running in such a great city and help build UTSA into a championship program."
Prior to his time in Baton Rouge, Pugh was a graduate assistant coach at Cincinnati in 2014. He helped the Bearcats to a 9-4 record, including a 7-1 mark in the American Athletic Conference, and a trip to the Military Bowl, and he helped tutor first-team all-conference selections offensive tackle Eric Lefeld and offensive guard Parker Ehlinger.
He spent one season as a graduate assistant coach at Virginia Tech in 2013, helping the Hokies to an 8-5 record and a trip to the Sun Bowl.
He got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2012, where he helped coach eventual Rimington Trophy (nation's top center) winner Reese Dismukes and 2014 NFL Draft second overall pick offensive tackle Greg Robinson.
Pugh was a four-year letterwinner at Auburn in 2007-10, where he earned All-America honors and was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy as a senior. A three-time All-SEC selection, he was the starting center for the Tigers' 2010 team that capped a perfect 14-0 season with a 22-19 victory against Oregon in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game. He also helped Auburn make trips to the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl and the 2009 Outback Bowl. Also a standout in the classroom, Pugh was a four-time SEC Academic All-Conference honoree, a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and a Lowe's Senior CLASS Award finalist in 2010.
He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
A native of Hoover, Ala., he graduated cum laude with his bachelor's degree in building science from Auburn in 2012. He is married to the former Cathey Lee Dalton.