10 best college football coaching hires
By John Buhler
In a rare situation, Major Applewhite has already completed his first game as the head coach of the Houston Cougars. The former offensive coordinator at Houston was promoted to head coach once Tom Herman left for the Texas Longhorns. Applewhite coached the Cougars’ 2016 bowl game and lost to the San Diego State Aztecs in the Las Vegas Bowl, 34-10.
Don’t let that blowout loss in a bowl game fool you — Applewhite was the right hire for the Houston program. The Cougars have been a stepping stone football program for the last decade for promising head coaching candidates. Art Briles, Kevin Sumlin and Herman all left Houston for a Power 5 gig in the state of Texas.
Applewhite may be a Longhorn at heart, being that he was the first starting quarterback of the Mack Brown era in Austin, but he has to realize that Houston is going to be a great fit for him for the next few seasons at the very least.
At Houston, Applewhite can recruit at a high level, run a multi-faceted offense, and gain valuable coaching experience. For a program that has had its issues with continuity, Applewhite’s promotion helps give the Cougars a strong football identity for the rest of the decade. Look for him to grow as a coach in his new role.