Tom Herman says he was honest with everyone in UH football program

PHOTOS: Browse through the photos for Tom Herman's timeline at the University of Houston

Texas head coach Tom Herman looks on during the Orange and White spring NCAA college football game Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Austin, Texas. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP) less PHOTOS: Browse through the photos for Tom Herman's timeline at the University of Houston

Texas head coach Tom Herman looks on during the Orange and White spring NCAA college football game Saturday, April 15, ... more Photo: Ricardo B.Brazziell, Associated Press Photo: Ricardo B.Brazziell, Associated Press Image 1 of / 39 Caption Close Tom Herman says he was honest with everyone in UH football program 1 / 39 Back to Gallery

Tom Herman said Thursday that he does not understand the reaction from angry University of Houston fans about his decision to become the head coach at the University of Texas and "fulfill a lifelong dream."

In an appearance on "The Proper Gentlemen of Sports" on SportsTalk 790, Herman was asked to clear the air about his hasty departure nearly five months ago after two highly successful seasons at UH. He maintained that he never lied to those closest to the UH football program.

"Some of the vitriol confuses me a little bit from the Coog fans considering what we were able to do and accomplish there in 23 months and the fun and wins that we had," Herman told hosts Matt Thomas and Lance Zierlein. "I sleep so easy knowing that I never once lied to a player, never once lied to a recruit, and never once lied to any coaches or administration. Those are the people I care about. Whatever the public thought was happening behind closed doors is really not for me to say. It's unfortunate people can twist and turn things to fit whatever narrative they'd like it to fit."

Throughout most of his two-year stay, Herman was dogged by reports linking him to several Power Five jobs, including South Carolina, Missouri, Georgia, Baylor, LSU and Texas.

"I was completely honest with our players from, 'Hey, don't believe this, this hasn't happened.' I never once refuted something that did happen," Herman said. "But I did refute a lot of the things that were reported that didn't happen and they were the truth."

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On Thanksgiving night, prior to the regular-season finale at Memphis, Herman said he gathered his team captains to discuss a report that he was on the verge of leaving for LSU.

"I said guys this isn't true what you are hearing about LSU. Do I need to have another team meeting to address it? Because we had multiple throughout the course of the previous few weeks," Herman said. "They said, 'No coach we'll handle it. We're numb to it at this point and we understand you're not going to lie to us.'"

The Cougars lost to Memphis 48-44. Upon arrival back in Houston, Herman met with Texas officials to discuss the job opening and announced the next day he was leaving to join the Longhorns.

"Never lied to a recruit, always told the recruits when they asked, and they would always ask," said Herman, who went 22-4 in two seasons and led the Cougars to the American Athletic Conference title and Peach Bowl win over Florida State.

Herman always maintained that there was a handful of "dream jobs" he would have to strongly consider.

"Obviously for me and my family this would fall into the extraordinary category," he told SportsTalk 790. "Never made any promises to recruits, never made any promises to anybody. I feel really, really proud of the old adage leave a place a better. I think our staff and our crew can certainly feel confident that we did that. It was going to take something very, very extraordinary to leave (Houston). We love that place. Not just the university, but the city and the people. You don't have very many opportunities in life to fulfill a lifelong dream. For me and my family we had to take that opportunity."

Herman said keeps in touch with many at UH, spending 45 minutes on the phone Wednesday night with new coach Major Applewhite, who "bounced ideas off me and asked questions."

"We're going to help that place (UH) succeed as best we can," Herman said. "We have a vested interest."