The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Traylor named tight ends and special teams coach at Texas
02.13.2015 | Football
Jeff Traylor, who has led Gilmer High School to three Texas state titles, has been named the Longhorns' tight ends and special teams coach.
Jeff Traylor, the former head coach and athletics director at Gilmer [Texas] High School, has been named tight ends and special teams coach at The University of Texas, head coach Charlie Strong announced Friday.
Traylor was Gilmer's head coach for the past 15 seasons (2000-14), amassing three state championships (2004, '09 '14) and a 175-26 overall record (.871). He also led GHS to state runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2012, along with 12 district titles.
"Honestly, I was extremely happy in my hometown (of Gilmer)," Traylor said. "This is where I was raised. There were only a couple of schools I would consider leaving for, and one of those schools called. Having an opportunity to coach at The University of Texas is a dream come true. It's special because of what it stands for in the state, the tradition, the pride, and how proud people are to be from there. It's just a unique place. They do things right, and who doesn't want to be a part of that? When you believe in the man that's calling you, and you believe in the place you're going, you've got to go be a part of it."
Gilmer has reached the 10-win mark 11 times under Traylor's direction, all in the last 12 years, while also recording seven 13-win campaigns. The Buckeyes reached the 15-win plateau three times, all of which resulted in undefeated state championship years, including two 16-0 marks in 2004 and 2014.
"Jeff's a tremendous football coach who has built a program at Gilmer that has had unbelievable success," Strong said. "He's a guy that we've watched, admired and really gotten to know. The thing about Jeff is he's just so passionate about the game and his players. We had a chance to get him in for an interview and around our staff, and he really impressed all of us. He has a great deal of knowledge and experience and having coached in this state for so long, really knows Texas. East Texas has so many great players that it really helps us to have a guy like Jeff on staff that knows the area so well. We're excited to have him on board."
Two former Longhorns who have had NFL careers played under Traylor at Gilmer in CB Curtis Brown and C David Snow. Brown lettered at Texas from 2007-10, and was a 2011 third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing with the organization until 2013, and recently signing with the New York Jets. Snow lettered at UT from 2008-11, signing as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills (2012) before playing with the Steelers (2013).
"The first thing that drew me to this opportunity was Coach Strong and his core beliefs," Traylor said. "I've listened to him recruit my kids, and I just liked what he was saying. I've been down (in Austin), and I see that his words match his actions. He's a man's man, and I want to help him. He offered me a chance to do that, so I took him up on it.
"He's done an amazing job. I felt at home the whole time I was there. They're tough, they work their kids hard, but they love their kids. They're good men, they're honest people, and they're just tough. They're the kind of men you want your son to play for. I can't wait to go to work with all of them."
En route to the 4A Division 2 state title in 2014, the Gilmer offense put up the second-most points in the history of Texas high school football with 950 in 16 games for an average of 59.4 points per game. The Buckeyes scored over 60 points on nine occasions, twice posting 80 or more. They also averaged 536.1 total yards per game (8,577) with a balanced 293.9 passing yards and 242.1 rushing yards per contest.
The defense was equally impressive, allowing only 276 points (17.3 ppg) with five single-digit performances and two shutouts, while recording 23 interceptions and forcing 17 fumbles. Gilmer capped the season with a win over West Orange-Stark at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and had eight different players earn 4A All-State honors from either the Associated Press or Texas Sports Writers Association.
Gilmer's two other state titles under Traylor both came in 3A in 2004 (Division 2) and 2009 (Division 1), before the change in class structure in Texas high school football moved the school into 4A last season.
Prior to Gilmer, Traylor was an assistant coach at Jacksonville [Texas] High School from 1993-99, where he served as passing coordinator, defensive backs coach, receivers coach and special teams coordinator.
Traylor began his coaching career at Big Sandy [Texas] High School, where he spent four years as an assistant coach from 1989-1992.
A 1986 graduate of Gilmer High School, Traylor earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from Stephen F. Austin while playing football as a walk-on.
Traylor and his wife, Cari, have two sons, Jordan, who is a quarterback at Texas A&M, and Jake, and one daughter, Jaci.
