AUSTIN -- To restore its football program to national relevance, Texas turned to the hottest name on the college coaching market.

Houston's Tom Herman was announced as the Longhorns new coach, replacing Charlie Strong, who was fired earlier Saturday. The move was a major statement but also a gamble by UT President Greg Fenves and athletic director Mike Perrin, who have each been in their jobs for less than two years.

Herman will be introduced as Texas coach Sunday at a news conference.

The 41-year-old Herman has a short but impressive body of work as a head coach. In two seasons at Houston, Herman has posted a 22-4 record with a perfect 6-0 mark against ranked teams. Among the Cougars victims: Florida State in 2015 and Oklahoma and Louisville this season. As offensive coordinator at Ohio State under Urban Meyer, he worked with three different quarterbacks as the Buckeyes won the first College Football Playoff championship.

"The opportunity to come back to Texas is a dream come true for me and my family, and I can't thank President Fenves and Mike Perrin enough for providing me with this incredible opportunity," said Herman, a former graduate assistant under Mack Brown.

"Longhorn football has been - and always will be - a national power, winning and playing for national championships with great pride and passion, supported by an unbelievable fan base."

The Texas brand isn't quite what it was. While Mack Brown posted double-digit wins from 2001-09, the Longhorns are 30-32 in the Big 12 this decade. Strong went 16-21 in three seasons, becoming the first coach in Texas history to record back-to-back-to-back losing seasons.

Herman will inherit a roster that was filled with underclassmen, including 18 of the 22 starters from Friday's season-ending loss to TCU. Strong even suggested several times that this current group has the ability to win a national championship - which might or might not be an optimistic projection.

"Let's be honest. Charlie Strong laid it out there for him on a silver platter," Houston board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta told the Houston Chronicle. "What a disappointment to have all those great athletes. Tom is walking into a great situation."

Industry sources described Herman as smart, organized and driven, big on planning. He's considered a strong recruiter and motivator who kisses his players before games but also brings CEO coach qualities, much like Brown.

In a TV clip when he was first hired at Houston, Herman said he "learned how to manage people and organizations" from Brown.

Texas may have set an unofficial FBS record with a coaching search measured in hours, not days. But the Longhorns apparently had a head start by being proactive.

Herman had been identified in published reports as the top candidate at LSU on Thursday.

In a statement, he indicated he spoke with Fenves and Perrin "late last [Friday] night and into the morning," before Strong was officially dismissed.

The Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate reported that Herman called LSU at 5 a.m. Saturday indicating he was leaning toward Texas. LSU then immediately turned its attention to interim coach Ed Orgeron, which left Texas to close the deal.

"This thing was never going to come down to a bidding war," LSU AD Joe Alleva said. "Coach O wasn't going to play games with us."

Contract terms were not immediately available although Herman is expected to receive a five-year deal worth more than $5 million annually. Texas will owe Strong a $10.7 buyout and must pay Houston a $2.5 million buyout.

Regardless of how it came about, Texas did land the consensus favorite among its donors and fan base. A week after the Longhorns lost to Kansas, the hiring supplied hope for something better.

"Tom was the hottest young head coach in the country the past two seasons," Fenves said, "and I am thrilled we are able to get him back to UT to lead Texas football."

After a month-long baseball coach search earlier this year to replace Augie Garrido, doubts lingered about Texas' ability to target and seal an elite football coach.

"I am impressed with his insights on college sports, football and academic success, and his philosophy of developing the student-athlete into the complete person," Perrin said of Herman.

"He clearly has a passion and respect for the game of football, and also, a passion for teaching young men the game and the life lessons that come with that."

Tom Herman's to-do list

Assembling a staff. Herman is expected to bring several members of his Houston staff. One problem might be bringing back offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, who is cited in an ongoing lawsuit against the university by former track and field coach Bev Kearney.

Recruiting. Herman and his staff will need a couple of months to build a class. Texas has just seven commitments and is ranked 61st in the 247Sports composite class rankings. Momentum from the hiring announcement should help as well as Herman's connections in Houston.

D'Onta Foreman. The junior running back is expected to make a decision soon on whether to go pro or return for his senior season after rushing for more than 2,000 yards. Can Herman convince him to return?

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