The Kevin Sumlin era at the University of Houston has come to an end, leading to the beginning of a Kevin Sumlin era at Texas A&M.

Sumlin informed the Cougars on Saturday in a team meeting that he is leaving his post as head coach.

UH athletic director Mack Rhoades confirmed that Sumlin will leave the Cougars for College Station.

Special teams coordinator and inside receivers coach Tony Levine has been named interim coach for the Cougars.

In four seasons at UH, Sumlin went 35-17, posting the highest winning percentage (.673) of any coach in school history. He is third on the school's all-time wins list. UH won at least 10 games in a season twice under Sumlin's watch and at least eight games in three of his four seasons and he won Conference USA Coach of the Year honors twice (2009 and 2011).

The Cougars won two Conference USA West Division titles and made two trips to the C-USA championship game under Sumlin though the Cougars did not win a C-USA championship under his tenure.

UH qualified for three bowl game appearances in Sumlin's four seasons.

The Cougars experienced several high points during Sumlin's stint as head coach. This season, UH reached 12 wins for the first time in school history and achieved its highest Bowl Championship Series ranking (No. 6) in program history. The Cougars went 12-0 before falling 49-28 to Southern Mississippi in the C-USA championship game on Dec. 3.

Their ascent to No. 7 in the Associated Press poll was the highest the Cougars have been in the national rankings since 1990. UH also rose to as high as No. 12 in 2009.

Sumlin's current UH contract, which was renegotiated after the 2009 season, runs through 2015. It calls for a $400,000 buyout if Sumlin terminates the agreement by Jan. 2.

sam.khan@chron.com

twitter.com/skhanjr