The Bears have lost running backs coach Stan Drayton to the college ranks: he was named the associate head coach and run game coordinator at the University of Texas on Tuesday.

Under Drayton, rookie Jordan Howard ran 252 times for 1,313 yards this year, the most for a Bears first-year player.

The Bears hired Drayton away from Ohio State when John Fox first assembled his staff two years ago. He worked with new Texas coach Tom Herman at OSU.

“I love him, I love his family, and I know he’s a guy I can absolutely trust,” Drayton said in a release. “He cares so much about the kids and the program and we as a staff will be totally aligned in that. Tom has a formula, he has a great plan and knows what it takes to establish a winning culture and sustain it.”

Drayton drew praise from Bears players and also potential ones — Buckeyes star Ezekiel Elliott openly pined for a reunion with him before the Cowboys selected him fourth.

“The list of great backs he’s worked with is a long one including most recently Ezekiel Elliott and Carlos Hyde at Ohio State and Jordan Howard, who set the Bears rookie rushing record this year,” Herman said..” We’re so fortunate to have him, and I’m looking forward to getting all of us together and building something special.”