Texas hires Houston’s Tom Herman as head coach

Texas has hired Houston coach Tom Herman after firing Charlie Strong on Saturday morning.

Texas has hired Houston coach Tom Herman after firing Charlie Strong on Saturday morning, the school announced.

ESPN’s Heather Dinich first reported the hire on Saturday.

Herman was reportedly a finalist for the LSU job before turning down a $6 million offer and telling the school he was leaning toward taking the Texas job. The Tigers promoted interim Ed Orgeron in light of the news.

Houston has announced that Todd Orlando will take over as the team’s interim coach for Herman. SI’s Pete Thamel previously confirmed an AP report that he had informed Houston officials that he is leaving.

Statement from @HunterYurachek on the Houston Football head coach position. #HTownTakeover pic.twitter.com/M45eh085Xt

— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) November 26, 2016

After a statement conflicted a report last Saturday and muddled Strong’s future with the Longhorns, he was let go on Saturday after going 16–21​ in three years on campus. “After thorough evaluation, the body of work over three seasons has not shown the improvement we were looking for,” men’s athletic director Mike Perrin said in a statement on Saturday.​​

Herman, 41, went 22–4 in his two years as head coach at Houston, winning the Peach Bowl last season. He returns to Texas, where he was a graduate assistant from 1999–2000.

– Kenny Ducey