Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(AUSTIN, Tex.) – The University of Texas has fired head football coach Charlie Strong.
The Longhorns lost to TCU 31-9 on Friday, capping a 5-7 season.
“Decisions like this are tough to make. The responsibility is not taken lightly,” athletic director Mike Perrin said in a statement. “… Coach Strong represented The University of Texas with class and dignity, and he demanded our student-athletes do the same by adhering to his system of core values. However, after thorough evaluation, the body of work over three seasons has not shown the improvement we were hoping for. This was an important year for our program to take the next step, and the results simply aren’t there, so we’ve decided to make a change.”
Strong, who was hired in 2014, will finish the worst winning percentage in school history, winning 16 games compared to 21 losses.
“I’m most disappointed for these kids and our staff who have poured so much of their lives into this program for the last three years,” Strong said in a statement. “I do understand that it comes down to wins and losses, and we have not done our job in that area yet. I accept full responsibility for that, but know in my heart that we accomplished our primary goal, which is the development of young men. … There are very bright days ahead, and I’ll be pulling for these kids no matter where I am.”
University of Houston coach Tom Herman is the favorite to replace Strong as head coach.
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