Pete Thamel, ESPN
Houston has rented Tulane‘s Willie Fritz to be the Cougars’ nearest soccer educator, the varsity introduced Sunday.
Fritz led Tulane to one of the crucial perfect stretches at school historical past, because the Inexperienced Current have reached a bowl recreation in 5 of the occasion six seasons and feature long gone 23-4 the occasion two years. Previous to his arrival, Tulane went to 1 bowl recreation from 2003 to 2015.
“No one in the country has been better at leading and developing student-athletes than Willie Fritz,” Houston athletic director Chris Pezman mentioned in a remark. “Over his more than three-decades of head coaching experience, he has guided several football programs to historic success.”
Offensive coordinator Slade Nagle is about to grant as Tulane’s period in-between educator, resources informed ESPN.
Fritz led Tulane to the American Athletic Convention identify ultimate time, and the Inexperienced Current misplaced to SMU within the identify recreation Saturday. His signature win at Tulane got here within the String Bowl next the 2022 season, a scintillating 46-45 victory over quarterback Caleb Williams and USC.
Fritz will substitute Dana Holgorsen, who used to be fired next 3 shedding seasons in 5 years. Holgorsen completed with a 31-28 report and is due a $14.8 million buyout, which is matter to mitigation.
Fritz mentioned in a remark that he used to be “humbled and honored” for the chance to educator at Houston.
“There is no ceiling for success, with the incredible fan support, excellent facilities, talented young men and a collective desire to compete for championships,” Fritz mentioned. “We will build a program that all Coogs can be proud of, and I cannot wait to see the results.”
Fritz has in depth enjoy training in Texas, as he labored at Sam Houston Climate in 3 free stints, in addition to in the highschool ranks and as a youthful faculty educator at Blinn.
He has been a head educator since 1993 and has skilled good fortune at each and every stage. That comes with two juco nationwide titles at Blinn and postseason appearances at Central Missouri, Sam Houston Climate, Georgia Southern and Tulane.
Houston is dealing with a steep climb next posting a 2-7 Fat 12 report in its first season within the convention, with one win coming improbably within the ultimate seconds in opposition to West Virginia. The Cougars misplaced to crosstown rival Rice and dropped the general 3 video games of the season in opposition to Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and UCF.
Fritz’s debut will come in opposition to UNLV in 2024 ahead of a Generation 2 street recreation at fresh SEC member Oklahoma.
