AUSTIN, Texas – Update:
The University of Texas at Austin has named Steve Sarkisian, the current offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide, as the Longhorns’ new head coach.
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This comes after the firing of previous head coach Tom Herman, as announced Saturday.
“Sarkisian has a strong track record as both an offensive coordinator and head coach in both Division I college football and the NFL. He also brings to the Longhorn football program extensive experience coaching in conference and national championship games and developing top talent, including three Heisman Trophy finalists,” UT-Austin officials said in a statement.
Chairman of the UT System Board of Regents Kevin Eltife said the university is eager for Sarkisian to join its football program.
“We are excited to have Steve Sarkisian join us and lead the next chapter of our football program,” said Eltife. “University of Texas football has a long and proud history of competing at the highest levels within our conference and nationally, and he brings with him the coaching caliber and championship experience needed to restore this kind of excellence to our program.”
UT-Austin said Sarkisian has spent two years as an offensive coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons, four years as an assistant and two as head coach for the University of Southern California.
He also spent five years as head coach at the University of Washington.
Original:
Tom Herman has been fired as head football coach of the Texas Longhorns.
The University of Texas at Austin made the announcement of Herman’s firing Saturday morning with a statement on social media.
Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte evaluated the program’s strengths and weaknesses and made the coaching change in an effort to get the university back on track, the university said.
BREAKING: Tom Herman has been fired. pic.twitter.com/IFjCpZ7pD4
— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) January 2, 2021
“President Hartzell and the chair of our Board of Regents, Kevin Eltife, concur with this recommendation and have approved the change. We thank Coach Herman for his service and dedication to our student-athletes, our program and our university,” university officials said in a statement.
Herman has been head coach of the Longhorns for four seasons. He has never had a losing season in Austin and had a 32-18 overall record at Texas, but the program’s success never reached a championship level.
Texas never won a conference championship during Herman’s tenure. His final game as Longhorns head coach was a victory over Colorado in the 2020 Valero Alamobowl.
This is a developing story and we’ll bring more updates as they become available.