An examination of the University of Houston football program's financials from the 2017-18 school year showed why the Cougars recently switched football coaches.

The university reported a drop of $5.8 million in football-related operating revenue following the 2017 season, according to an NCAA filing obtained through an open records request. That was the first season of Major Applewhite's short-lived tenure.

The transition from Tom Herman to Applewhite, who was fired after the 2018 season, showed a significant financial drop-off. In 2016-17, Houston's football program accounted for $12.1 million of its total operating revenue. The season after Herman left to become Texas' coach, the Cougars made only $6.3 million.

A $2.3 million dip in miscellaneous operating revenue accounted for the low overall total. Reduced ticket sales also played a key role. The Cougars earned $3.7 million for the 2017 season, a drop of $1.9 million from Herman's final year.

Football-related donations also fell by more than $500,000. As a whole, the athletic department received $8.4 million in financial contributions.

It's unclear how many university dollars were used to offset the reduced revenue. In response to The News' record request, a university official said Houston will file an updated financial statement to the NCAA that will reflect an accurate amount. In 2016-17, the Cougars led all in-state Football Bowl Subdivision schools in institutional support with $17.6 million.

As expenses have increased to keep with "power five" schools, the pressure has increased to keep Houston among one of the top "group of five" programs in the country. Applewhite was fired in December after going 15-11 in two seasons.

He was replaced by Dana Holgorsen, a former Houston assistant who went 61-41 in eight seasons at West Virginia. Holgorsen received a five-year deal worth $20 million in base salary, according to the Houston Chronicle, the richest coaching contract in school history.