Barry Lunney Jr., who most recently served as the interim head coach at Arkansas, was named associate head coach and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at UTSA on Dec. 13, 2019.
In his first season overseeing the offense, Lunney guided the Roadrunners to new heights with a balanced attack, helping the team to a 7-5 record, a runner-up finish in the Conference USA West Division at 6-2 and an appearance in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. UTSA broke single-season school records for rushing yards (2,585), rushing yards per game (215.4), yards per rush (5.21) and rushing touchdowns (24) behind All-American running back and 2020 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year Sincere McCormick. The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award finalist and Doak Walker Award semifinalist shattered UTSA's single-season marks for yards (1,467), carries (249) and touchdowns (11) while finishing second in the FBS with a program-record 133.4 rushing yards per game. The Roadrunners also smashed single-game standards for total yards (624) and rushing yards (443) in a game in a regular season-finale rout of North Texas.
Despite having to use four different quarterbacks during the 2020 campaign due to injuries and COVID-19 protocols, Lunney's passing game piled up 2,399 yards and 16 touchdowns on 60-percent passing (222-370). Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2020 honoree and honorable mention all-conference quarterback Frank Harris drew the most starts and completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 1,630 yards and 12 TDs while also rushing for 528 yards and nine scores. Wide receivers Joshua Cephus and Zakhari Franklin emerged as a potent tandem for the air attack, as the two sophomores set UTSA season records for receptions (58) and receiving yards (694), respectively.
In addition to McCormick and Harris, the offensive line trio of Spencer Burford, Makai Hart and Ahofitu Maka were tabbed second-team all-conference, while Cephus, Franklin and tight end Leroy Watson all received honorable mention recognition. Burford also was named to the Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College First Team, Maka was a Rimington Trophy watch list member and offensive lineman Demetris Allen was picked for the C-USA All-Freshman Team.
Lunney came to San Antonio after spending six seasons as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at his alma mater in Fayetteville. He took over as the interim head coach late in the 2019 season and led the Razorbacks in games against No. 1 LSU and Missouri.
Lunney brings a wealth of experience to the Roadrunners, including three seasons at Tulsa (2000-02), two at San Jose State (2003-04), nine as the offensive coordinator at Bentonville (Ark.) High School and eight combined years at Arkansas (1998-99, 2014-19).
Lunney helped develop the Arkansas offensive attack into one that was spurred through its tight ends. During the 2018 season, the Razorbacks made a living off production out of the tight end position, completing 58.8 percent of the group’s targets, which was above the team average. Arkansas finished the year ranked second in the country in tight end touchdowns and tied for fourth in the nation in tight end first downs, as Cheyenne O’Grady led the team in receptions (30) and touchdowns (six). In 2019, O’Grady led the Razorbacks with 33 catches and four TDs in 12 games.
From 2014 to 2016, Lunney developed one of the top tight ends in Arkansas history in Hunter Henry, who won the John Mackey Award and was a consensus first-team All-American as a junior in 2015. He was the first tight end taken in the 2016 NFL Draft with the 35thoverall pick by the Chargers, and he has become one of the top receiving threats in professional football.
Henry led all FBS tight ends with 739 receiving yards on 51 receptions – each career highs – and hauled in three touchdown passes in 2015. In addition, Henry and tight end mate Jeremy Sprinkle combined for a league-best 1,128 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
During his career, Henry hauled in 116 passes for 1,661 yards and nine touchdowns. He is one of only eight tight ends in SEC history to reach the triple-digit mark in receptions while playing in the conference. Of the eight, he is one of four to tally more than 1,500 receiving yards. In addition, his 1,661 career receiving yards rank second in program history among tight ends, only trailing Williams (1,855, 2007-10). His 116 receptions and 1,661 receiving yards through those three seasons were both tops in the SEC among tight ends.
A year later, Sprinkle followed Henry’s footsteps and was taken by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. During his senior season, Sprinkle set the Arkansas record for career TDs by a tight end with 11 and was also invited to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Lunney also oversaw the transition of AJ Derby from quarterback to tight end. Derby finished fifth in the SEC with 303 receiving yards during the 2014 season and was a sixth-round draft choice of the New England Patriots despite playing the position for less than a year.
In his first season coaching the Arkansas tight ends, Lunney led Henry to second-team All-SEC, Freshman All-America and SEC All-Freshman Team recognition. Henry’s receiving yards ranked third in the nation among freshman tight ends, and he was the only freshman tight end in the SEC with a 100-yard receiving game. Henry also led SEC tight ends and ranked third in the conference by gaining a first down on 78.6 percent of his receptions.
Before returning to the Razorbacks, Lunney served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Bentonville High School from 2005-13.
In his eight years at Bentonville, the Tigers won 78 games, including 25 straight in 2010-11, played in four state championship games, claiming state titles in 2008 and 2010, and won six straight 7A West Conference crowns from 2007-12. Bentonville played in three 7A state championship games and won at least 12 games in four of his last five seasons.
Bentonville quarterback Dallas Hardison broke the Arkansas state single-season completion percentage record in 2010 and bettered the record in 2011 under the direct guidance of Lunney. In 2011 and 2012, the Tigers won their first 12 games to advance to the state championship game with an offense that averaged 42.5 and 36.8 points per game, respectively.
The 2010 Bentonville team finished the season 13-0 and won the 7A state championship. The offense averaged 47.0 points per game and scored at least 40 points nine times, including 49 points in the semifinal round and the state championship game.
Lunney’s first state title at Bentonville came in 2008 as the Tigers won 12 games for the first time since 2001. The offense averaged 30.2 points per game and scored more than 30 points in seven of 13 games.
Before moving to the high school coaching ranks, Lunney compiled seven years of collegiate coaching experience.
Lunney spent two seasons as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at San Jose State. During his tenure, the offense produced six all-conference performers, and tight end Courtney Anderson was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 2004 NFL Draft. In 2003, the Spartans ranked 17th in the NCAA in passing offense and quarterback Scott Rislov ranked third in the WAC in passing efficiency and total offense.
Prior to that, Lunney spent three seasons at Tulsa, first working with quarterbacks in 2000 and 2001 and then moving to wide receivers in 2002. In 2000, quarterback Josh Blankenship ranked fifth in the WAC in total offense and receiver Don Shoals led the conference and ranked 11th in the NCAA in receptions per game.
His coaching career began with two seasons as a graduate assistant at Arkansas following a standout career for the Razorbacks. In 1998, Arkansas won its first eight games and rose to No. 9 in the national rankings on the way to sharing the SEC Western Division title and earning a berth in the Citrus Bowl. Lunney served as the Razorbacks’ running backs coach for the bowl game and throughout the spring of 1999. Arkansas spent the majority of the 1999 season in the top 25 of the national rankings and finished the year with a 27-6 win over No. 14 Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
As a player for the Razorbacks, Lunney lettered from 1992-95, starting 40 games at quarterback, and was a team captain on the 1995 team that played in the SEC Championship Game for the first time in school history. In his first game as the starting quarterback, he led Arkansas to an upset win at No. 4 Tennessee. He left Arkansas holding school career records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass completions, pass attempts and total offensive plays. Lunney also played baseball at Arkansas. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos out of high school in 1992 and by the Minnesota Twins in 1996 and played one season of minor league baseball in the Twins organization.
Lunney graduated from Arkansas in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. He and his wife, Janelle, have two sons, Luke and Levi. His grandfather, John lettered at Arkansas from 1946-49. His father, Barry Sr., retired after 28 years as a high school football coach in Arkansas, winning eight state championships at Bentonville HS and Fort Smith Southside HS.
The Barry Lunney Jr. File
Coaching Experience
1998: Arkansas (graduate assistant)
1999: Arkansas (running backs)
2000-01: Tulsa (quarterbacks)
2002: Tulsa (wide receivers)
2003-04: San Jose State (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2005-13: Bentonville High School (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2014-18: Arkansas (tight ends)
2019: Arkansas (special teams coordinator/tight ends)
2020-present: UTSA (associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
Playing Experience:
1992-95: Arkansas (quarterback)
Education
Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, Arkansas, 1996
Hometown
Fort Smith, Ark.
Family
Wife: Janelle
Sons: Luke, Levi