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.