Orlando to become Texas’ defensive coordinator

LAS VEGAS — With a goal of someday becoming a head coach, Houston defensive coordinator Todd Orlando took the next step by agreeing to the same position at Texas under old boss Tom Herman.

Orlando will sign a threeyear deal that pays more than $1 million annually, a source with knowledge of the contract told the Chronicle, making him the highest-paid assistant in UT history. Orlando made $526,000 this season.

“It’s going to be very, very challenging. It’s a tough league to play great defense,” Orlando said Saturday after UH’s 34-10 loss to San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl. “But if you do have success, it opens up other avenues to eventually become a head coach.”

UH made a “seven-figure offer” in an attempt to keep Orlando, the architect one of the nation’s top defensive units the past two seasons at UH.

Named interim coach after Herman’s departure in late November, Orlando was a finalist for the UH head-coaching job that eventually went to Major Applewhite.

After not getting the job, Orlando said he’s not the type to “sit there and pace around” and decided to take the UT job. He informed UH players in the week leading up to the bowl.

Orlando said there was no bitterness in not getting the UH job, calling Applewhite an “unbelievable hire.”

“We knew this was something that was going to happen,” Applewhite said. He added that Orlando “brought a lot of toughness to our defense.”

Saturday’s game also was the last for a couple other staffers: associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Craig Naivar and strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight will join Herman’s staff.

They join former UH assistants Jason Washington, Derek Warehime, Corby Meekins and Oscar Giles with UT.

Allen suspended for missing curfew

UH senior receiver Chance Allen was suspended for Sat- urday’s game for violating the team’s curfew.

Allen, who started 11 of 13 games this season, led the team in receiving touchdowns (six) and was second in receptions (56) and receiving yards (815).

Allen was not in his room for a 10 p.m. curfew check Thursday.

Odds and ends

Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. finished his UH career 27-6 as the starter. He finished with a .818 winning percentage, second alltime behind Gary Mullins (.833) from 1969-71. … With a 2-yard TD run in the first quarter, Ward tied the school-record 39 TDs set by Bryce Beall from 2008-11.