UH approves huge raise for football coach Tom Herman

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The University of Houston Board of Regents on Thursday approved a recommendation to increase football coach Tom Herman's annual salary to $3 million.

The deal on the table for Herman -- who has led the Cougars to only the second 10-0 start in school history and a No. 13 ranking in his first season as a head coach-- would make him the highest-paid football coach in the American Athletic Conference and from a non-Power Five school.

Herman, 40, who has been mentioned as a candidate for several openings at major conference schools, is making $1.35 million this season.

"We wanted to get it out there to the world and let everybody know we are committed to Tom Herman being at the University of Houston," UH Board of Regents chairman Tilman Fertitta said.

Fertitta, who was authorized to negotiate a contract with Herman on behalf of the university, said the $3 million salary is a 'starting point.'

"We'll take it up every year," Fertitta said. "We'll negotiate a long-term deal with coach Herman."

On the heels of the Cougars' success in his first season, coach Tom Herman earned a huge bump in pay from the UH Board of Regents. On the heels of the Cougars' success in his first season, coach Tom Herman earned a huge bump in pay from the UH Board of Regents. Photo: Thomas B. Shea, MBI Photo: Thomas B. Shea, MBI Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close UH approves huge raise for football coach Tom Herman 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

UH took the unusual step of sweetening a deal for Herman because of the Cougars' rapid rise and speculation that he could be a candidate for openings at South Carolina, Maryland, Miami, Missouri and Southern Cal.

"We're going to make it really hard for him to choose to go to another institution," UH athletics director Hunter Yurachek said.

The Cougars play Connecticut this weekend and Navy the day after Thanksgiving for a spot in the inaugural AAC championship game. UH also is in position to grab the Group of Five spot in a New Year's Six bowl.

Herman originally signed a five-year deal worth at least $6.75 million in December.