Herman gets a Texas-size deal

University of Texas regents on Saturday gave new football Coach Tom Herman a five-year contract worth at least $25 million.

Herman could make even more if all goes well and he’s not fired like his predecessor, Charlie Strong. Herman gets a first-year salary of $5.25 million and it will grow to $6.25 million by the fifth year. He also gets a $1million bonus if he is still employed on Christmas 2019. It also includes bonuses up to $575,000 per season for onfield performance ranging from playing in a bowl game to winning a national championship, and another $150,000 for national coach of the year recognition.

Texas fired Strong after three losing seasons and moved swiftly to hire Herman away from Houston, where he was 22-4 the past seasons in his first head coaching job. The entire process took less one week. The board met by conference call Saturday to approve the contract. Deliberations were done in private before the board took a public vote to approve the contract.

Briles not on list

Houston Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek said former Baylor coach Art Briles is not a candidate to be the Cougars’ next coach.

The school released a statement after an ESPN report stated Briles would interview for the vacancy created by the departure of Herman to Texas. Yurachek said earlier last week that Briles “expressed interest to me regarding the Houston head coach position.”

“After discussion with University of Houston leadership, we developed a list of candidates to be interviewed that did not include Art,” Yurachek said.

Notre Dame AD says Kelly’s job safe

Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick said on his weekly radio show that it’s “business as usual” at Notre Dame and dismissed speculation that Coach Brian Kelly won’t be back next season in light of this season’s 4-8 record. He noted the Irish finished 10-3 last season despite numerous injuries, describing that as one of the best coaching jobs he has seen. He called it “a remarkable year.”