When Kevin Sumlin was introduced as UH’s 11th football head coach last December, he said it was his goal to have a wide-open, aggressive offense – he wasn’t kidding.
Sumlin lured Dana Holgorsen away from his post as offensive coordinator at Texas Tech to assume the same role with the Cougars. The hiring, announced Friday, fills out Sumlin’s coaching staff.
Holgorsen, who spent the last eight seasons as an assistant at Texas Tech, comes with nice credentials. Last season, his only as an offensive coordinator, Holgorsen helped the Red Raiders finish first among 119 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in passing offense (470.3 yards per game), second in total offense (529.6 yards per game) and seventh in scoring offense (40.9 points per game).
"I think this is great for us," Sumlin told The Houston Chronicle. "He’s one of the bright, young offensive minds in football.
"He has recruited Houston, too, so I don’t think there’s a better fit for what we’re trying to accomplish here than him. I think what he brings to the table is that he’s aggressive, he’s a great recruiter and I think that the high school coaches here know him and are comfortable with him."
Holgorsen also brings extensive knowledge of the spread offense, which Sumlin plans to run under his tutelage.
If Holgorsen can get UH’s offense to resemble the one he oversaw at Texas Tech last season, opponents are going to be in for some serious trouble. There aren’t many defenses that can shut down that type of offense.
Jeffcoat on board
Nearly a week before Holgorsen’s hire, Sumlin added former Dallas Cowboys assistant coach and defensive end Jim Jeffcoat to his staff as defensive line coach.
Jeffcoat, a first-round Dallas pick in 1983, played 15 years in the NFL, including 12 with the Cowboys, and served as defensive line assistant and a tutor to the defensive ends with the team from 1998 to 2004.
"I’m excited," Jeffcoat told the Houston Chronicle. "I’m excited about having the opportunity to work with coach (John) Skladany (defensive coordinator and safeties) and coach (Leon) Burtnett (linebackers) and the rest of the defensive staff. I can obviously learn a lot from them."
Recruiting class shaping up
Since moving into his UH office Jan. 3, Sumlin has been hard at work on the recruiting trail. So far, his efforts are producing results.
According to Houston.scout.com, the Cougars have 22 verbal commitments in their 2008 class, which will be announced Wednesday during National Signing Day. Verbal commitments are non-binding until the student athletes sign national letters of intent.
UH obtained five verbal commitments last week when Bowie High defensive end Mohammed Usman, linebacker Marcus McGraw, Waller offensive guard David Hunter, Westlake Village, Calif. kicker Jordan Mannisto and Sterling wide receiver Ronnie Williams jumped on board.
The cream of the class is Chavez linebacker Jarvis Smith, who verbally committed to UH Jan. 14. Smith, who had previously committed to Baylor, is the only scout.com four-star prospect among the Cougars’ verbal commitments.
UH also has four three-star prospects with Pearland safety Nick Saenz, Fort Bend Marshall defensive end Leonard James, Aldine linebacker Anthony Lewis and Channelview wide receiver Jackie Hinton.
Sumlin’s initial class appears to be dominated by defense, as 13 of the verbal commitments are defensive players.
