Big 12 Football: Head coach power rankings entering 2015
By Hayden Hyde
Nov 1, 2014; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong on the sidelines during the game with the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
6. Charlie Strong – Texas Lonhorns
Career Record (43-23)
In two years since taking over, Charlie Strong still has work to do rebuilding the team in Austin. The Longhorn’s clearly took some major steps back during the end of Mack Brown’s tenure, and it’s up to Strong to clean it up.
The defense has definitely improved under Strong, but the offense is absolutely abysmal. The Longhorns consistently struggled to score points last season, which can be accredited to bad quarterback play. Unless Tyrone Swoopes improves or Jerrod Heard can play his way into a starting role, Strong won’t be alleviated by those struggles either.
Charlie Strong started his career as a graduate assistant at Florida and later Texas A&M. He finally broke through and landed defensive coordinator jobs at South Carolina and Florida. His tough defense and charismatic personality helped him become the head coach at Louisville, his first head coaching opportunity. After posting a 37-15 record after four years, he was hired by the University of Texas.
It will be interesting to see if Strong can lead Texas back to their perennial spot atop the Big 12. The last few years of recruiting have still been fruitful, so it’s up to this coaching staff to develop that talent. Although they have quarterback woes, the Longhorns still have the talent to contend in the Big 12.
Next: Mike Gundy