Houston football is hiring away a sitting Power 5 coach. West Virginia head man Dana Holgorsen will soon be formally announced as the Cougars’ next head coach.
2019 is already off to a strange start. The Houston Cougars fired Major Applewhite after a stunning bowl blowout at the hands of Army, leaving little time before the New Year to find his replacement. It didn’t take long. Multiple sources confirm current West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen will be the next head coach in Houston.
Holgorsen has a previous relationship with top booster Tilman Friettia and worked as the offensive coordinator for the Cougars in 2008 and 2009 under Kevin Sumlin. He then moved on to Oklahoma State and then West Virginia where he’s been the head coach since 2011. Now he’s the head man for the Houston Cougars.
The hiring is a resolution of sorts for the Houston program. The Cougars are in one of the most talent-rich cities in the country with plenty of blue-chip recruits within driving distance of campus. It’s not a Power 5 school, but now they have a bonafide Power 5 head coach. If anyone is able to crack the Group of 5 glass ceiling a push for relevancy, why not Houston?
The Cougars hope to emulate what UCF was able to accomplish and more. Houston has the talent roots and the history of being a giant-killer in recent years. The Cougars have victories over Florida State and Oklahoma. If Holgorsen can add one or two more Power 5 pelts to the wall Houston fans will be elated.
Applewhite had his chance and did little more than tread water. Holgorsen brings successful head coaching experience and familiarity with the area. Houston stands to benefit tremendously from what could be the biggest coaching coup of the 2018-2019 coaching carousel.