Breaking News: Former Texas Coach Tom Herman Fired at FAU After Two Seasons
In a shocking move that has sent ripples through the college football world, Tom Herman has been fired as head coach of Florida Atlantic University (FAU) after just two seasons at the helm. The decision to part ways with Herman, who was hired in 2021 to rebuild the Owls’ program, comes on the heels of a disappointing season and a lack of significant progress toward sustained success.
Herman, 48, was brought to FAU in the hope that he could replicate some of the success he had during his tenure at the University of Houston and turn around a struggling FAU football program. Known for his energetic coaching style and ability to develop talent, Herman seemed like a promising hire after his successful stint with the Cougars. Under his leadership at Houston, he posted a 22-4 record over two seasons (2015-2016), including a notable victory over Florida State in the 2015 Peach Bowl. His success there led to his hiring by Texas in 2017, where he took over a Longhorns program in need of revitalization.
However, Herman’s time at Texas was far from smooth sailing. Despite recruiting top-tier talent and showing flashes of promise, he was unable to consistently elevate the Longhorns to elite status, finishing with a 32-18 record over four seasons and failing to win a Big 12 Championship. After Texas finished a disappointing 7-3 in his final season, Herman was dismissed, leaving many to question his ability to compete at the highest level of college football.
After a year off from coaching, Herman accepted the job at FAU, a program coming off a 5-4 season under interim head coach Willie Taggart. The expectations were modest but clear: Herman was tasked with restoring FAU to a level of competitiveness it hadn’t seen since the team’s brief rise to prominence under former coach Lane Kiffin, who left in 2019 to take the Ole Miss job.
Unfortunately for Herman, his tenure at FAU was marked by inconsistency and a lack of tangible improvement. Over the course of two seasons, the Owls posted a 12-12 record, including a 7-5 mark in 2024 that failed to meet the expectations of FAU’s administration. Despite having a solid recruiting class and an offense that occasionally showed flashes of promise, Herman’s teams were plagued by turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and an inability to win close games. The Owls’ performance in conference play was also underwhelming, as they struggled to compete with the upper echelon of the Conference USA standings.
Sources close to the FAU athletic department cited a “lack of progress” and “unmet expectations” as the primary reasons for the decision to part ways with Herman. While there were moments of optimism during his tenure, the overall trajectory of the program did not align with the vision that the administration had for the future.
In a statement, FAU athletic director Brian White said, “We appreciate Coach Herman’s efforts and dedication to the program over the past two years. However, after careful consideration, we believe it is in the best interest of FAU football to make a change at this time. Our goal is to continue building a championship-level program, and we feel a new direction is necessary to achieve that.”
Herman, for his part, expressed disappointment but remained gracious in his response. “I want to thank the FAU players, staff, and fans for their support during my time here. I’m proud of the efforts we made, and while we didn’t achieve the success we hoped for, I believe the foundation is there for future success.”
As the search for a new head coach begins, FAU fans will be left wondering what went wrong with Herman’s tenure and whether the program can find a coach who can take them to the next level.
