Former Texas high school coach Joe Price III is in his second year as associate head coach and pass game coordinator and his third as wide receivers coach at UTSA after spending two seasons as director of player personnel.
During Price’s time in San Antonio, the Roadrunners have enjoyed the most successful four-year run in program history with a 39-14 overall record, 27-4 regular season league mark, two conference championships and four straight bowl appearances.
In his first season coaching the wide receivers in 2022, Joshua Cephus, De'Corian Clark and Zakhari Franklin combined to give UTSA arguably the most productive pass-catching trio in the FBS. The three all-conference selections combined to catch 232 passes for 2,862 yards and 29 touchdowns. Franklin earned first-team all-league and honorable mention All-America accolades after eclipsing his own school standards from 2021 with 94 receptions, 1,136 yards and 15 TDs. Cephus collected second-team all-conference honors after hauling in 87 passes for 985 yards and six scores. Clark also was named to the C-USA Second Team after piling up 741 yards and eight touchdowns on 51 receptions despite missing the last five contests due to a season-ending injury.
In 2023, Price helped guide the Roadrunners to a 9-4 overall record, a 7-1 mark for a third-place finish in their American Athletic Conference debut campaign and the program’s first bowl win with a 35-17 victory over Marshall in the 2023 Frisco Bowl.
In a year in which he was named to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 40 Under 40 list, Price’s receivers combined to catch 204 passes for 2,631 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023. Cephus paced the unit with a program-record 1,151 yards on 89 receptions, reaching the end zone 10 times during his final campaign. He earned first-team All-AAC honors and was the Frisco Bowl Offensive MVP, finishing his career as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (313) and receiving yards (3,655).
Price spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as UTSA’s Director of Player Personnel, where he was responsible for initial identification and evaluation of prospects, managing the prospect video database, oversight of the day-to-day recruiting operations, organization of recruiting events and materials and assisting with roster management.
In his first year in San Antonio, the Roadrunners posted a 7-5 overall record, registered a runner-up finish in Conference USA’s West Division with a 5-2 mark and earned a spot in the First Responder Bowl.
In his second season with the program, UTSA finished with a 12-2 record to set the school record for most wins and best winning percentage in a season. The Roadrunners were nationally ranked (as high as No. 15) for the first time in school history and captured their first league title by winning the C-USA Championship with a 49-41 victory over WKU. UTSA capped the season with its second straight and third overall bowl appearance against San Diego State in the Frisco Bowl.
Price joined UTSA after spending the 2019 season as the Director of High School Relations for the Illinois football program. During his one year in Champaign, the Fighting Illini won six games and made their first bowl appearance since 2014 when they played California in the Redbox Bowl.Prior to his time at Illinois, Price spent 10 years as a high school coach in the Galena Park Independent School District. In addition to his coaching duties, he also was responsible for a variety of football operations, including fundraising, summer camps, serving as a liaison to college coaches, developing a website and producing highlight videos for college-bound athletes.
Price was the passing game coordinator, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at perennial prep powerhouse North Shore High School from 2014 to 2018. He helped the Mustangs to a pair of Class 6A-DI state championships and four district titles during his time with the program. During his time on the staff, North Shore saw more than 75 players advance to the collegiate level.
In 2018, North Shore was named national champion by MaxPreps after posting a perfect 16-0 record and outscoring opponents 854-199, winning by an average margin of 41 points per game. North Shore capped its title run by beating Duncanville, 41-36, on a Hail Mary pass as time expired at AT&T Stadium.
Price got his coaching start in 2009 as an assistant coach, video coordinator, player development coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Galena Park High School.
A native of Houston and former standout at Aldine Nimitz High School, Price played football at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., where he was one of the top wide receivers in school history. A team captain as a senior in 2005, he ended his career ranked third in career receptions (121), eighth in career receiving yards (1,404), and ninth in receptions per game (2.88).
Price earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Harding in 2009 and a master’s degree in education leadership/administration from Stephen F. Austin in 2017.
He is a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association, the American Football Coaches Association and the Greater Houston Area Football Coaches Association, where he served a secretary on the executive board of directors.
Price’s father, Joe Price Jr., was a high school coach in Texas for over 30 years. He and his wife, Joy, have two daughters, Ryan and Jordan.
The Joe Price File
Coaching Experience
2009-13: Galena Park High School (assistant coach)
2014-18: North Shore High School (assistant coach)
2019: Illinois (director of high school relations)
2020-21: UTSA (director of player personnel)
2022: UTSA (wide receivers)
2023-present: UTSA (associate head coach/pass game coordinator/wide receivers)
Playing Experience
2001-05: Harding (wide receiver)
Education
• Bachelor’s degree in business management, Harding, 2009
• Master’s degree in education leadership/administration, SFA, 2017
Hometown
Houston, Texas
Family
Wife: Joy
Children: Ryan, Jordan