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Texas Football: 10 greatest coaches in program history

By Quinn Douglas

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HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 27: Anthony Wheeler #45 of the Texas Longhorns picks up a fumble and returns for a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the Academy Sports & Outdoors Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 27: Anthony Wheeler #45 of the Texas Longhorns picks up a fumble and returns for a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the Academy Sports & Outdoors Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

4. Fred Akers: 1977-1986

  • Career Record: 86-31-2
  • Awards and Accolades: 1977 & ’83 Southwest Conference Champions

Replacing a legend like Darrell Royal is not very easy, but Fred Akers did a pretty decent job of it. Akers played college football at Arkansas from 1958 to 1959 under legendary head coach Frank Broyles. Four years later, Akers found himself as head coach of Edinburg High School in Murillo, Texas. Following a stint as head coach at Lubbock High School, Akers arrived at Texas as an assistant in 1966 and would stay on the staff until 1974, when he became head coach of Wyoming.

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Akers spent two years leading the Cowboys program, winning the WAC championship in his second and final season at Wyoming. Akers was hired back to Texas following the retirement of Darrell Royal in 1977. He led the program for 10 seasons, compiling an overall record of 86-31-2 and winning two Southwest Conference Championships in 1977 and 1983, both years notably had Texas in national title contention until the bowl game. Following the first losing season in 30 years at Texas, Akers accepted the head coaching job at Purdue.

Akers would coach the Boilermakers for four years but has nowhere near the success he had Texas, winning only 12 games in his tenure. Akers would resign from Purdue after the 1990 season amid discipline problems with the program and never returned to coaching.

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