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For a while, it looked like Houston coach Tom Herman was headed to South Carolina.
Herman nixed his interest in the Gamecocks recently, but may be SEC-bound after all.
Just hours after Georgia and former coach Mark Richt parted ways, 247Sports reported that Herman “would be highly interested” in the opening.
The former Ohio State offensive coordinator is a proven recruiter. He possesses the nation’s 31st-ranked class in 2016, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
He also helped the Buckeyes to a national title after the 2014 season despite injuries to quarterbacks Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett, developing a renowned reputation as an offensive-minded assistant. He won the Broyles Award as the nation’s best assistant coach in 2014.
In addition to coaching on Urban Meyer’s staff, Herman also spent time working for Mack Brown and Paul Rhoades. He played receiver for California Lutheran in college.
As a first-year head coach at Houston, Herman, a 40-year-old Cincinnati native, led the Cougars to an 11-1 season and the West Division title in the American Athletic Conference. Houston ranked 17th in Sunday’s Associated Press poll, sandwiched between Ole Miss and Florida — the second- and third-ranked SEC schools.
Houston publicly has offered Herman a new contract worth about $3 million per season in total compensation.
From the 247Sports report:
“Industry sources believe he’d be content waiting at Houston for something to open at Texas or Texas A&M (Herman played college in Texas and GA’d with the Longhorns), but an offer from Georgia would be enticing for Herman to turn down.”
Other names linked to the UGA opening in the media include Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
