Texas AD: ‘Tom Herman is our coach’
Unless a team goes undefeated, there will be fans and some members of the media who declare a coaching change is needed.
Sometimes those suggestions are valid. Other times, a record that deemed sub-standard can be caused by a number of factors, ranging from injuries to a debatable call by the officials to an unpredictable bounce of that crazy ball with two points on it.
With Saturday’s game at Kansas cancelled, the Texas Longhorns find themselves with a 6-3 record and awaiting a bowl bid. That record, while nothing of which to be ashamed, has disappointed some on the outside looking in at the UT program, leading to speculation about whether Tom Herman would return in 2021 as the Longhorns’ head coach.
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte put an end to that speculation in a statement released Saturday through the UT athletic department.
“There has been a lot of speculation about the future of our football coach,” Del Conte said in the statement. "My policy is to wait until the end of the season before evaluating and commenting on our program and coaches. With the close of the regular season, I want to reiterate that Tom Herman is our coach.”
Del Conte’s statement acknowledged that more was expected of the Longhorns this season, but also stressed optimism about the direction of the program.
“When I look at our football program right now, I see tremendous young men and promising talent,” Del Conte’s statement said. “Our student-athletes are developing, and they play their hearts out. This has been an unprecedented year for all of us, and we’re all disappointed that we didn’t meet our expectations. Like the many fans that follow and support our program, I can’t help but think what could have been in 2020.
“There’s still more work to be done, but I’m excited to watch our players and program move forward.”
Through nine games this season, the Longhorns are 31-18 under Herman; his 25 victories entering this season were the third-highest total for any coach in program history after three seasons. UT’s presumed bowl bid this season will be its fourth in four seasons under Herman.
