FAMILIAR FOE
Now Houston's coach, Dana Holgorsen can't get away from the Sooners
Dana Holgorsen says he took the University of Houston job last January before he looked at the Cougars' schedule. Then he said, “oh (crap).”
Holgorsen can't seem to get away from the
Sooners. Holgorsen three times this century has left a Big 12 coaching gig, but he's avoided OU only three times in 20 seasons. Holgorsen was an assistant coach at Texas Tech from 2000-07, offensive coordinator at Houston from 2008-09 and offensive coordinator at OSU in 2010, before becoming coach-in-waiting at West Virginia, where he indeed was head coach by 2011. The Mountaineers then joined the Big 12. Holgorsen left West Virginia for the Houston job, and there awaiting is OU, Sunday night on Owen Field.
What's crazy to Holgorsen is the schedule remains a bear even after “the biggest challenge in the world” on Sunday.
After the Sooners, Houston hosts Prairie View six days later (Saturday), host Washington State six days later (Friday) and play at Tulane (Thursday) six days after THAT.
And Holgorsen keeps running into old Air Raid buddies the entire year. Lincoln Riley, a fellow Tech protégé of Mike Leach, on Sunday. Washington State and Leach himself on Sept. 13. North Texas and Seth Littrell, who played at OU when Leach was the coordinator and coached for Leach at Tech, on Sept. 28. SMU and Sonny Dykes, another Leach disciple, on Oct. 24. Central Florida and Josh Heupel, Leach's
quarterback at OU in 1999, on Nov. 2.
“It's an Air Raid damn reunion the entire year,” Holgorsen said.
Not that Holgorsen wishes he was back in the Allegheny Mountains. The West Virginia deal had run its course. Holgorsen took the Mountaineers to an Orange Bowl victory (70-33 over Clemson) in his first season at WVU, but then came the Big 12 era. In seven Big 12 years under Holgorsen, West Virginia went 51-38 overall, and 33-30 in the conference.
Both sides got itchy. Holgorsen wasn't winning big, he missed Houston, and when UofH came calling, Holgorsen was glad to go and West Virginia didn't mind him going.
Holgorsen raves about the progress at Houston, particularly under president Renu Khator and regents chair Tilman Fertitta.
“Developed a lot of relationships here,” Holgorsen said this week. “Really loved the city and thought the university was an intriguing place. I left but never quit paying attention. It's a whole lot different than it was 10 years ago. Our academics are on a whole other level, our facilities are on a whole other level. Enrollment went from 25,000 to 50,000.”
Houston football has been revived in the last decade, with a new stadium and some Tom Herman glory years, including a Peach Bowl victory over Florida State and a 2016 season-opening upset of the Sooners. Houston basketball is soaring under Kelvin Sampson. Houston baseball has become an NCAA Tournament mainstay.
In that context, Holgorsen's decision to leave a Power 5 conference job makes more sense.
Holgorsen's five-year contract is worth roughly $20 million, with significant buyouts if he were to leave. Plus, Houston committed $4.5 million per season for assistant coach salaries. All those figures are beyond most mid-major means.
“We've got stability across the athletic department,” Holgorsen said. “It's what the football program needs. Obviously, I made a commitment to come here, and I made a commitment to stay here. I can't leave and they can't fire me. We're going to build this thing the right way.”
Still, life outside the Power 5 is dicey. The cash flow isn't as consistent. Access to the College Football Playoff is virtually nil.
“I think we're silly if we know what's going to happen with college football,” Holgorsen said. “I don't think we know what's going to happen with the CFP (playoff). I don't think we know what's going to happen with conference realignment. I feel very comfortable being in the situation we're in now.
“The sky's the limit as far as what the resources are and what the enrollment is. We're in a city of six million people, the city's growing, it's prospering. And the university is as well. Whenever those changes happen, I can assure you we're going to be in the conversation.”
Before those days, the Cougars are in the conversation for strangest schedule ever. One Saturday game before Sept. 28. Four games in 19 days.
“It's a great opportunity,” Holgorsen said. “We embrace every one of them.” Starting with the Sooners, who seem to show up wherever Holgorsen goes.