UTRGV football is being built from the ground up, and Coach Marco Regalado is right in the middle of that foundation.

In this episode, Seth Saunders sits down with Coach Regalado to talk about his South Texas roots, his non-traditional climb through the coaching profession, and what it means to help build a new Division I football program in the Valley.

Coach Regalado shares how his football journey took him from Zapata, Texas, to Texas State, to creating a football club when his own playing path did not unfold the way he hoped, to grinding through Texas high school football, recruiting, player personnel, Rice, Washington State, and now UTRGV.

The conversation also covers Coach Regalado’s life as a Texas country music artist, the lessons he learned from mentors throughout the profession, and the walk-on values that shape the way he coaches: heart, hustle, toughness, humility, relentless effort, and doing the things that take no talent.

This is a conversation about betting on yourself, building belief before results, and shifting from proving doubters wrong to proving believers right.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
01:47 Coach Regalado joins the show
02:11 Football coach by day, Texas country artist by night
07:57 Coming home to South Texas and UTRGV
09:00 Building a program from scratch
11:00 Recruiting belief before results
11:48 What UTRGV looks for in players
14:11 Coach Regalado’s non-traditional climb
15:14 Trying to walk on at Texas State
16:00 Creating a football club from scratch
17:11 Walk-on values and TNT traits
20:10 Coaches who shaped the journey
24:19 Washington State, Nick Rolovich, and taking a chance
25:58 Lessons from Rice and Mike Bloomgren
27:44 Coach Bush and the UTRGV opportunity
29:19 What players remember years later
31:34 Doc Brown's DeLorean
33:55 How to support UTRGV football

“Instead of trying to prove people who doubted you wrong, focus on proving every single person who believed in you right.”

“You’ll go very far in life if you work hard and treat people right.”

“We have to find tough kids that love football.”

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week.

The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape.

Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show"
Instagram — @preferredwalk_on
TikTok — @preferredwalkon
Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn
X / Twitter — @PreferredWO

Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available:

• Walk-On
• Partial Scholarship
• Full Ride
  Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com

Walk-On grit. All-American film.

Missouri State head football coach Casey Woods joins The Preferred Walk-On Show to talk about leadership, culture, faith, toughness, family, and what it takes to build a football program that lasts.

Coach Woods shares his journey from playing at the University of Tennessee, earning his way as a walk-on, coaching on a national championship staff at Auburn, helping build winning programs at UAB and SMU, and now leading Missouri State football into a new era.

This conversation goes beyond wins and losses. Coach Woods opens up about the influence of his father, long-time head coach Sparky Woods, the lessons learned from adversity, the five core values guiding his program, and why the walk-on mindset still matters in college football.

If you love conversations about college football culture, leadership, player development, program building, and the people behind the game, this episode is for you.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: The press conference is the result, not the beginning
01:39 – The moments that prepared Woods for the head chair
04:11 – Sparky Woods: a hero, a mentor, and now a staff member
07:23 – The non-negotiables of a Casey Woods program
11:12 – What a player should carry beyond football
14:43 – The walk-on mindset & the TNT All-American
17:37 – What adversity teaches you about yourself
21:38 – Advice to young Casey leaving Tennessee for the last time
25:15 – Closing thoughts

“Love your team. Love your teammates. Always compete. Enjoy the journey.”

“You can’t separate the wins and losses from the impact, because the cost of the platform is winning.”

“The proudest day of my life is when the University of Tennessee put me on scholarship.”

“Two things every single coach can be: organized and enthusiastic.”

“Don’t ever, ever, ever settle for average.”

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week.

The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape.

Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show"
Instagram — @preferredwalk_on
TikTok — @preferredwalkon
Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn
X / Twitter — @PreferredWO

Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available:

• Walk-On
• Partial Scholarship
• Full Ride
  Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com

Walk-On grit. All-American film.

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer sits down with The Preferred Walk-On Show to trace his path from walk-on player to leading a Power Four program - and to explain why culture, core values, and resilience matter more than any recruiting ranking.

Coach Beamer opens up on the leadership lessons that shaped his coaching philosophy, the outsized role walk-ons play in building winning culture, and how adversity and failure became catalysts for growth. He digs into the core values - love, gratitude, and trust - that anchor his program, why authenticity and hard work earn lasting respect, and how the relationships you build become your real legacy.

Whether you're a coach, a player grinding for your role, or a fan who loves the human side of the sport, this conversation is a blueprint for building something that lasts.

🏈 Shane Beamer's journey from walk-on to South Carolina head coach

🏈 Why walk-ons are the heartbeat of championship culture

🏈 The core values that define South Carolina Football

🏈 Leadership lessons from success, failure, and adversity

🏈 How players can earn trust and create opportunity

🏈 Why "every day is a résumé builder"

🏈 Advice for young coaches and future leaders

• "Core values are the foundation of a program."

• "Every day is a résumé builder."

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Intro to Coach Shane Beamer
01:17 The Importance of Walk-Ons
02:35 Beamer's Journey as a Walk-On
04:31 Finding Your Role
09:07 Building a Program: Core Values
13:10 The Legacy of Coaching
15:09 Lessons on Adversity
17:28 Advice to Young Coaches
20:55 Walk-Ons in South Carolina

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week.

The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape.

Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show"
Instagram — @preferredwalk_on
TikTok — @preferredwalkon
Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn
X / Twitter — @PreferredWO

Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available:

• Walk-On
• Partial Scholarship
• Full Ride
  Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com

Walk-On grit. All-American film.