After coaching the Longhorns to their first appearance in the College Football Playoffs, Coach Sarkisian earned a huge pay bump.

The system leaders’ decision comes weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop considering diversity in their hiring practices. Texas A&M University also recently changed its hiring practices.

UTSA decided to end the six-year tradition because the phrase had become “incongruent” with the university’s values and it did not want to become embroiled in a divisive issue.

Proposals obtained by The Texas Tribune indicate the institute would be “dedicated to the study and teaching of individual liberty, limited government, private enterprise and free markets.”

The news comes after the SEC voted to invite UT and the University of Oklahoma to join its 14-member league during a meeting with the league members’ presidents and chancellors Thursday afternoon.

This comes after the firing of previous head coach Tom Herman, as announced Saturday. Original:Tom Herman has been fired as head football coach of the Texas Longhorns. We thank Coach Herman for his service and dedication to our student-athletes, our program and our university,” university officials said in a statement. His final game as Longhorns head coach was a victory over Colorado in the 2020 Valero Alamobowl. According to reports, Texas is looking to hire Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to replace Herman.

Jay Hartzell officially named the new UT-Austin president. Jay Hartzell officially became president of The University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday. The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents unanimously voted to make Hartzell president of the university after previously naming him the sole finalist for president in August. Hartzell, former dean of the UT-Austin business school, stepped into the role of interim president in April after former president Greg Fenves stepped down. Fenves was university president for five years before leaving to lead Emory University in Atlanta.

University of Texas at Austin Interim President Jay Hartzell has been named sole finalist for president. The University of Texas System's Board of Regents unanimously named Jay Hartzell the sole finalist for president of its flagship university on Tuesday. Hartzell, former dean of the University of Texas at Austins business school, was named interim president in April after former president Greg Fenves stepped down. Eltife will appoint a committee to offer advice and evaluation on the sole finalist. The Board of Regents approved an annual salary of $795,000 in June for Hartzell as interim president.

Interim President of the University of Texas at Austin Jay Hartzell. Eddie Gaspar/The Daily TexanThe University of Texas System Board of Regents on Monday approved an annual salary of $795,000 for the flagship's interim President Jay Hartzell. Hartzell, dean of UT-Austins business school, was named interim president in April after former President Greg Fenves announced his departure. In 2018, Fenves earned $762,220 as UT-Austin's president. "I'm very proud of President Hartzell at UT-Austin and all of our presidents for listening closely to their students, alumni, staff, and supporters," Chariman Kevin Eltife said.