The possibility of three-time national championship coach Urban Meyer ending up at Texas appears to have come to an end after Meyer indicated to Texas he’s leaning toward not coaching again due to health reasons, a university source told Horns247. Horns247 reported Sunday if Texas couldn’t land Meyer, there’s a chance Tom Herman will remain as coach of the Texas Longhorns.
“There was an opportunity here too good not to pursue with Urban (Meyer),” the university source said. “If he’s a definite no, we just need to step back and assess.”
Paying a $25 million buyout to let go of a four-year coach who is 31-18 (.632) and replacing him with a three-time national championship coach like Meyer is one thing. Paying a $25 million buyout without a clear-cut alternative to Meyer is another thing, the source said. Donors would step up for Meyer. It’s unclear if donors would be willing to do the same for anyone else, sources said.
The wildcard in the equation would be if Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte could come up with a coach who would galvanize the support of donors and regents for such a steep buyout. Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, Oregon coach Mario Cristobal, Penn State coach James Franklin and Iowa State coach Matt Campbell are among the coaches Texas has researched, according to sources.
What about the lack of fan support for Herman?
The university source said Herman isn’t a great personality fit and angered the administration and donors as much for not having his team standing together for The Eyes of Texas earlier this year as for his team’s sloppy play in a 1-2 Big 12 start.
It was after a 33-31 home loss to TCU followed by a four-overtime loss to Oklahoma that Texas donors began pushing hard for school officials to consider Meyer as Herman’s replacement.
Meyer was contacted at that point and has been aware of interest from Texas since October, sources told Horns247. Despite rumblings that Texas would pay Meyer an annual salary in excess of $10 million as well as meet a list of demands from Meyer, UT officials say privately there was never a formal offer made.
Del Conte has told Herman he’ll be evaluated at the end of the season. Texas (6-3, 5-3 Big 12), which won at Kansas State 69-31 on Saturday, will be a big favorite at winless Kansas next week and then likely will head to either the Alamo, Liberty or Texas bowls. If Del Conte determines there’s a coach he thinks would energize regents and donors for a $25 million buyout, then Texas could have to wait until late December or even January to talk to that coach if his team is still playing – possibly February if it’s an NFL coach.
Could Texas and its fanbase wait that long to learn if it will be Herman or someone else coaching the Longhorns in 2021?
“I don’t like it for recruiting,” the university source said. “But Tom Herman is under contract for three more seasons. If there’s no clear replacement, I don’t see us paying the buyout to gamble on another coach.”