No longer is Houston fringe.
The largest school in America’s fourth-largest city, a sports-craved one at that and with some 47,000 enrolled students, Houston is in its first year as a Big 12 member, is in the nation’s most talent-laden state — and, perhaps most importantly, yearns to be a national factor in college football.
Money and resources likewise aren’t empty; there’s room for improvement, sure, and especially as it pertains to Name, Image and Likeness opportunities.
But barring a negotiated settlement for less than he is owed, Dana Holgorsen was fired by Houston despite having approximately $14.8 million owed to him.
The Cougars are at a nexus point and they know it.
They also already have multiple coaches who have expressed interest in the just-Sunday-official vacancy.
Who could fit what the Cougars need?
Gary Patterson. The longtime TCU head man, unceremoniously parted from the Horned Frogs in October 2021, has made no secret his desire to coach again.
Several sources already have told FootballScoop that Patterson very much is a viable candidate for the position; his 181 career wins and six conference championships across three leagues are resumè lines almost certainly unequaled by any other candidates.
Plus, Patterson spent 25 consecutive years coaching in Texas, and there’s a lot to be said for a guy who’s proven a lot and finds himself motivated to prove more.
Jeff Banks. With deep Texas ties and time on staff at UTEP, Texas A&M and, presently, as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Texas, Banks is an intriguing potential candidate whom sources tell FootballScoop has strong interest in helming the Cougars program.
Banks also has time on Nick Saban’s Alabama staff, and he’s carved a reputation as an aggressive recruiter.
And not that Houston appears to be pinching pennies in this move, but Banks - like Patterson - has no buyout owed if Banks becomes a head coach.
Jeff Traylor. The former Texas prep head coach and college assistant, Traylor has turned UTSA into a consistent Group of 5 winner and helped make the program one of the preeminent non-Power 5 programs. His humble roots, widespread Lone Star State connections and winning pedigree all are attractive components.
Traylor does have a buyout to leave UTSA in the neighborhood of $7 million.
Blake Baker. A Houston native, Baker has climbed through the coaching ranks after a playing career at Tulane with defensive coordinator stops at both Louisiana Tech and Miami before joining Eli Drinkwitz’s staff in 2022.
All Baker has helped the Tigers do this season is win 10 games for the first time in 10 seasons, finish second behind two-time defending national champion Georgia in the SEC East and, in a romp of Tennessee, hold a Josh Heupel offense to single digits for the first time in Heupel’s 70-plus game coaching career.
Baker also got his coaching start on the Texas high school level at Clear Springs and served as a graduate assistant at the University of Texas for three years.
Willie Fritz. Proven winner with more than 200 career wins, and his signature moment arguably came at the end of last season, when his Tulane Green Wave rallied to stun top-10 USC in the Cotton Bowl after Tulane won its conference championship and was the highest-ranking Group of 5 team.
Fritz also has considerable clout in Texas; in addition to early days as a high school coach, he also worked extensively at Sam Houston State, where he twice played for a national championship.
At private-school Tulane, it's unclear how much Fritz's buyout would be to leave New Orleans, but Georgia Tech had the consensus winner deep in negotiations before it fumbled things a year ago.
Dan Mullen. The former Florida and Mississippi State head man has sat out the past two season after he was dumped by the Gators, but Mullen remains a coaching candidate intriguing to athletics directors because of his overall volume of success.
Sources indicated to FootballScoop that Mullen and Syracuse officials had discussions about the Orange's vacancy but Mullen is not expected to be the choice there sources tell FootballScoop.
As Kirby Smart recently said, Mullen wasn't known for his recruiting, but in Houston the right staff could take care of that element.
Kliff Kingsbury. It's a bit unclear how eager Kingsbury is to reenter the fray at any level as a head coach, but from his playing days to his coaching days at A&M and Texas Tech, and with his offensive acumen, he's an intriguing potential candidate -- one sources tell FootballScoop is being vetted by Houston.