Houston Cougars: What Will Major Applewhite Mean For UH Football?

The Houston Cougars have finally completed their exhaustive head coaching search after the departure of Tom Herman.

The Houston Cougars have finally completed their exhaustive head coaching search after the departure of Tom Herman.

It has been whirlwind of rumors in regard to who would take over one of the hottest jobs in the country and us Cougars fans finally have answer.

So who did the University of Houston Board of Regents pick?

None other than offensive coordinator Major Applewhite.

The Houston Chronicle’s Joseph Duarte was on it like white on rice:

This news comes a not too much of a surprise considering how much of an asset Major had been to the football program over the past two seasons.

Although I feel Todd Orlando would’ve been a bit of a stronger hire, this is truly one that I can rally behind because I know he will be committed to success of the program and he’ll be sticking around for awhile.

But you don’t have to take my word for it, here’s what some of the notables had to say via Duarte:

UH President Renu Khator:

University of Houston Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek:

UH Board of Regents Chairman Tillman Feritta:

This will be Applewhite’s first head coaching gig after nearly a decade of assistant coaching with stops at Texas, Syracuse, Rice, Alabama and finally Houston.

Nobody can deny that Major doesn’t have the experience to lead the Cougars into the next echelon.

The terms of the contract that has been agreed upon both parties is for five years.

Although the numbers haven’t been released at this moment, I’d imagine that he’ll be getting paid about $1 million per year laced with incentives to make even more cash along the way.

He is the head coach effective immediately and will coach the team in the Las Vegas Bowl Dec. 17th.

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I was in high school when Major was under center at Texas and it’s quite evident that he is truly the quarterback whisperer.

I’ve seen this offense do incredible things — he was able successfully mold Greg Ward, Jr. into a highly-respectable quarterback and could very well catapult him into pros as he has completed his senior year.

His natural position is wide receiver but the decision to not only move him to under center — and keep him there under Tom Herman — has been a boon for the program.

Ward passed for 3,328 yards and threw 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions — a damn good stat if you ask me and up from 2015.

The Coogs were also ranked 15th nationally in total offense this season, averaging 301.9 yards per game, 11.08 yards per attempt and 24 touchdowns to their credit.

Also over the past two seasons Applewhite has been here, the Coogs have been ranked in the Top 25 as far as points per game.

They were ranked 10th in 2015 (40.4 PPG) and 20th this season (38.0 PPG).

What were they ranked in 2014?

The team was ranked 58th (29.8 PPG) in the last season of the brief — and mostly forgettable — Tony Levine era.

The highlight to that season was the come-from-behind 35-34 win over Pitt in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth.

Next: What Will Tom Herman's Departure Mean?

I was at that game — it was cold, it was raining and it was looking grim that we’d win but just as the Coogs persevered then, they’ll do the same under Major.

I had hoped for a Bill Yeoman-type coach for quite some time and Major might be the guy to stick around for awhile to mold this program into the respectable image that we all can be proud of.

Yep, just like how Bill did.

But anyway, with my commentary aside, he’ll be a great fit for the program and I wish him nothing but the best.

Go Coogs.