Head coach Tony Levine is reportedly in contract talks with UH. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar
More than a month after Christmas, UH is still in a giving mood.
After a multi-year extension with defensive coordinator David Gibbs was reported on Friday, UH is in contract talks with head coach Tony Levine, according to the Houston Chronicle.
“We only comment on completed and signed contracts,” a UH spokesman said.
For the Cougars, extending and increasing Gibbs’ $300,000 salary is justified. Gibbs’ Third Ward Defense produced 43 turnovers to lead the nation by nine and allowed only 21.8 points per game — the fewest UH has allowed since 1999.
Plus, Gibbs turned lemons into lemonade. Statistically, UH was one of the worst defenses in the nation in 2012, allowing 36 points per game, which ranked it No. 110 nationally, and lost its two best players — cornerback D.J. Hayden and linebacker Phillip Steward — to the NFL.
Furthermore, UH needed to reward Gibbs so he wasn’t poached by Southeastern Conference contenders Georgia and Arkansas for vacant coordinator positions.
But for Levine, an extension or increase on his $800,000 salary is premature because his pedestrian 14-12 record at UH doesn’t yet warrant a pay raise.
Levine’s tenure was mired in road bumps from the very beginning when he had to replace his play-caller after one game when former offensive coordinator Mike Nesbitt “resigned.”
The Cougars weren’t particularly good at anything in 2012 as they slouched to a 5-7 record one season after going 13-1 and defeating Penn State in the Ticket City Bowl under former head coach Kevin Sumlin.
The offense couldn’t find consistency with a rookie head coach, quarterback David Piland’s struggles and injuries to key players.
Midway through the season, it became clear that UH needed a new defensive coordinator too. The defense couldn’t stop anyone. Opposing teams could pass and throw with relative ease.
However, Levine and the Cougars made Texas-sized strides in 2013 that began with hiring coordinators for the second time in as many years. Gibbs’ simplified scheme and offensive coordinator Doug Meacham’s ability to pull production out of a freshman quarterback helped the Cougars earn eight wins and reach a January bowl game against an SEC opponent.
UH won its first five games and earned a winning record in American Athletic Conference play while developing freshman quarterback John O’Korn along the way. With three more years of eligibility for O’Korn and a plethora of young talent, Levine has created the infrastructure to have a good team for a long time.
Besides O’Korn, who tied a freshman record for touchdown passes with 26, UH brings back most of its weapons. Meanwhile, it will only lose four senior starters. Sophomore receiver Deontay Greenberry will return as a top threat after compiling more than 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Cougars also retain junior Daniel Spencer, who was a big-play threat, and freshman Greg Ward, who played several different positions.
On defense, UH will keep its ball-hawking sophomore safeties Trevon Stewart and Adrian McDonald along with its leadership and talent at linebacker and youth and athleticism on the defensive line.
The Cougars also have done a good job in recruiting since Levine arrived. UH’s 2013 recruiting class was ranked as the top mid-major recruiting class in the nation.
On paper, the Cougars are a threat to win the American, especially with conference contender Louisville bolting for the Atlantic Coastal Conference and UCF is losing its starting quarterback to the NFL.
But conference championships are not won on paper.
During Levine’s tenure, the Cougars haven’t defeated a ranked team since the Ticket City Bowl in 2011. Though they came close against UCF, Louisville and Cincinnati, no one remembers close losses. UH’s best win is against Conference USA champion Rice, which got pummeled 44-7 in a bowl game, or Rutgers, which fell apart the second half of the season amid bullying allegations against the coaching staff.
Perhaps a new deal could be preemptive, and will secure Levine’s spot in Houston before the winning begins.
The Cougars have a bright-looking future. With a talented roster and a brand new $100-million-plus football stadium, UH has the base for a squad that will compete for years. Levine has the tools in his box to have a great team, but I haven’t seen the production on the field yet.
He’ll have several opportunities to earn a pay raise with the Houston skyline behind him in August.
The author of this article, Christopher Shelton, has been banned from Coogfans for life because he disagrees with the athletic department.
For the record, his article is spot on. Levine doesn’t deserve an extension and raise. He has way more to prove.
Question: How does the UH head coach salary compare with other HCs in the AAC? Forget that it’s Levine for a minute and compare HC salaries of the programs in the conference.
How many AAC coaches had to fire their offensive coordinator one game into the season because they made a bad hire? How many AAC coaches promised that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” as a means to emphasize continuity and then threw continuity out the window?
Thanks, Chris, for writing this article. It’s not so much that we have to attack Mack, but, as you pointed out very objectively, CTL has done a great job this last season correcting many problems from last year. However, he didn’t accomplish anything that warrants an extension, much less a raise. NEXT year, should he win the conference, by all means, that deserves major rewards. But turning around a program from a 5-7 season is what was expected for the salary and term that he already has. So glad you wrote this article.
I’m impressed with many facets of Coach Levine’s job performance. I am pleased with the turnaround last year. I like the overall talent he has accumulated through recruiting. I like the image he presents to the media. I like the way he relates to his players as well as the UH fanbase (students/alums/fans). He seems to have a great work ethic and strong organizational skills. We won eight games with one of the youngest teams in the conference, and appear poised to have success for the next three years. For all these reasons, I think it is appropriate to give him a bump/extension as an endorsement of his job performance at this point. Good job Mack Rhoades.
Money for college sports is such a waste of money. They should spend the money to teach the players how to read instead.