UH defensive coordinator Todd Orlando to join Tom Herman at UT, sources say

HOUSTON – It was announced Saturday afternoon University of Houston defensive coordinator Todd Orlando will join Tom Herman's staff at University of Texas, sources said.

The announcement was made as Orlando stood on the sidelines at the Las Vegas Bowl game, where Houston was playing San Diego State.

UT officially announced Herman as its new head football coach Nov. 27.

The news conference was held in Austin.

UT president Greg Fenves said he talked to former UT head football coach Charlie Strong, who was fired in November, and wished him the best, but the new chapter of UT is with Herman, who was hired away from the University of Houston.

Fenves called Herman the "hottest coach in college football today." He said the decision to hire Herman was made Friday.

Before Herman was introduced, athletic director Mike Perrin spoke about Herman's coaching career. He said Herman was the "real deal, right choice and great choice for Texas." 

Herman opened his speech by speaking kind words about UH and how much his time there meant to him. He said he is getting congratulating phone calls and texts from UH players.

"Haven't had a chance to wrap my head around it," Herman said.

He said the hardest thing in his life was to tell UH players goodbye Saturday, "(I'm) not ashamed to admit I cried when I did it," he said.

Herman said his first priority at UT is the players. He warns them the program he has planned for them is "going to be really really hard."

Herman said he doesn't feel any sense of pressure for his position because he is prepared. He ended the conference with a special moment between him and former UT coach Mack Brown.

UT hired Herman away from the University of Houston, where he went 22-4 in two seasons, to take over the reins of the Longhorns football team.

Herman replaces Charlie Strong, who was let go after three seasons at UT. Herman becomes the 30th head football coach in Texas history.

Herman has ties to Texas, spending a season as a graduate assistant under Mack Brown.

"The opportunity to come back to Texas is a dream come true for me and my family, and I can't thank President Fenves and Mike Perrin enough for providing me with this incredible opportunity," Herman said Saturday. "Longhorn football has been – and always will be – a national power, winning and playing for national championships with great pride and passion, supported by an unbelievable fan base."