The University of Houston introduced Kevin Sumlin as its new head football coach Friday afternoon at the John O’Quinn Great Hall in the Athletic Alumni Center. Sumlin succeeds Art Briles and becomes the 11th head coach in UH history.
Sumlin has spent the last five seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners as the co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach from 2006-07, and was specials teams coordinator/tight end coach from 2003-05.
Sumlin brings with him the attitude and success of Oklahoma and its head coach Bob Stoops. He has had a great time recruiting in Texas and in Houston – a hot bed of talent.
"I bring both energy and excitement to the program, as well as an aggressive style of offense and defense," Sumlin said. "It will be a style that the players will want to play and a style that our fans will like to watch. What excited me (about coming to Houston) was a chance to play for a championship every year."
Sumlin, 43, becomes the first black head coach in Cougar history as well as the first black coach in a Texas Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision. The Cougars were also the first Texas Division I school to recruit a black player when they brought in Warren McVea under the tutelage of UH great Bill Yeoman.
Since 1998, Sumlin was a part of staffs that made it to nine bowl games – five with OU (the Fiesta Bowl in 2007 and 2008; the 2005 Orange Bowl; the 2005 Holiday Bowl and the 2004 Sugar Bowl), one with Texas A’M (GalleryFuriture.com Bowl in 2002) and three with Purdue (the 2001 Rose Bowl; the 2000 Outback Bowl and the 1998 Alamo Bowl).
Of the eight bowl games he has been a part of, Sumlin was part of three bowl wins. The Cougars, however, have not won a bowl game since 1980 when they beat Navy 35-0 in the Garden State Bowl.
Since Sumlin has been part of Stoops’ coaching staff at OU, they have won three of four Big 12 Championships.
With the dead period – a period where coaches may not talk to recruits – coming up on Monday, Sumlin reiterated that he would go back to OU to help the Sooners prepare for the Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia.
"I think we will get started on the recruiting trail (soon). The dead period starts on Monday, so no one is really out recruiting," Sumlin said. "It’s pretty easy to manage because no one is out there to recruit. We’ve got to call the guys that are committed right now and make sure that they’re solid.
"We play (Jan. 2) and the Texas Bowl is on Dec. 28, so I’ll be here (Jan. 3) and we will try to get our staff assembled during that time and get everybody together around (Jan. 4). You cannot get back out there recruiting anyway."
Athletics director Dave Maggard said Sumlin brings a strong tradition to UH.
"He has been in programs that have been very strong and in programs where success has taken place and have continued the success," he said. "He has a great deal of success in recruiting, and he has been recruiting in the Houston area for a number of years during the time he was at Texas A’M and at Oklahoma."
Oklahoma receivers enjoyed success this season. Juaquin Iglesias, Malcolm Kelly and Jermaine Gresham – their top three receivers – have compiled 143 receptions for 2,159 yards and 24 touchdowns.
"I think he can bring a winning tradition, coming from Oklahoma," senior running back Anthony Alridge said. "They’re used to winning. Around here, we’re getting used to winning too, so it’s going to be a good deal for us."
