Houston has promoted offensive coordinator Major Applewhite to become the school’s next head coach, the school announced Friday morning.
A source told 247Sports that Applewhite won the job over interim coach Todd Orlando and Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
The 38-year-old Applewhite had been the Cougars’ offensive coordinator the past two seasons under Tom Herman. Prior to that, Applewhite spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Texas, where he earlier set several school records as an All-Big 12 quarterback.
Kiffin was at one point thought to be the leader, sources told 247Sports as late as Thursday, but Houston administrators ultimately went with an internal candidate due to hesitation regarding Kiffin’s ability to bond with Texas high school coaches.
Continuity was also important after Herman and his staff led the Cougars to a 22-4 record in two seasons. Applewhite’s offenses finished an averaged of third in the American conference in scoring and sixth in yards per play.
Houston (9-3) plays Mountain West champ San Diego State (10-3) in the Dec. 17 Las Vegas Bowl. Applewhite will coach the team in the bowl game, per the release.