Texas has ‘let go’ coach Charlie Strong after 3 seasons

Charlie Strong has been fired as the head football coach at the University of Texas at Austin, the school announced Saturday.

An official announcement on Strong’s replacement has yet to be made.

Herman replaces Charlie Strong, who was let go Saturday morning by UT after three season. Many fans are wishing Tom Herman well as he leaves for the University of Texas but despite the well wishes many are expressing disappointment that it’s back to square one for the coaching staff.

“Growing up in the state of Louisiana, watching the Tigers play, we get it”, said Orgeron, who is only the third Louisiana native to coach the Tigers since LSU joined the SEC in 1933. Herman knows that. The Texas he’s taking over is especially optimistic about what’s coming next.

Houston athletic director Hunter Yurachek presented Herman with a contract extension earlier this week that included a “seven-figure increase” in total compensation, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Houston Chronicle. Allen, who transferred to Houston from Texas A&M in January, would have two years of eligibility remaining if he decides to follow Herman to Austin.

“I am so thrilled and fortunate”, Strong said of his appointment at the time, “to continue the tradition built by so many great coaches and a program that has won four national titles”. “The thing is, we’ve been building it for three years”.

Herman, 41, is in his second year as head coach at Houston and has a 22-4 record.

Strong’s efforts to rebuild failed as the Longhorns slipped further back in the Big 12 despite recruiting classes hailed as some of the nation’s best. The Longhorns finished 3-6 in the Big 12. “I think for the university it’s going to be a challenge but we’ll overcome like we have throughout the years”, said student Omar Coronado. Strong had a few signature wins while at the school, but was not able to put together a winning season.

Charlie Strong went 16-21 at Texas. Longhorns players had rallied behind their coach this week, with several giving tearful pleas for him to return next season.

Of course, Herman could potentially convince any of them to flip before National Signing Day in the likely event they initially commit elsewhere, but he’ll have to make up ground quickly without significantly recruiting them as realistic targets for Houston prior. In the end, Strong said Friday night after the TCU game that he felt at points it become too much about him.

It wasn’t the only reason Strong wasn’t going to last at Texas – it was the final reason. After some negotiations and a private trip by Fenves, he added offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert and offensive line coach Matt Mattox, who both came from Tulsa and have since improved Texas’ offensive struggles.

Strong will walk away with a lot of money – a reported $10 million buyout – and perhaps an opportunity down the road to resurrect his head coaching career elsewhere.