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SPORTS

In the Third Ward, a community center works to develop families in the area around UH. | PG. 7

Herman leaves legacy of success

While former head coach Tom Herman only spent two seasons at UH, he leaves behind a culture of winning and high expectations for the next to fill his shoes. | PG. 10

NEWS

College of Technology moves to Sugar Land After years of finding its home on the UH Main Campus, one department will continue its migration next semester. | PG. 3

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Emily Burleson, EDITOR

MENTAL HEALTH

Counseling services to expand with new funding A rare funding windfall will enable CAPS to increase counselor pay and hire four more JASMINE DAVIS

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @JASMINEPDAVIS

Counseling and Psychological Services is equipped to begin hiring four new counselors by fall 2017, a move made possible by the Student Fees Advisory Committee’s recommendation to increase funding to the department.

“It is validating to know that SFAC prioritizes the mental health needs of our students,” said Norma Ngo, Director of CAPS. For fiscal year 2018, SFAC recommended a permanent budget increase of $265,161. Their total base budget is now $2.2 million.

Additionally, the committee granted the department an immediate one-time increase of $126,191 to begin hiring new counselors for the spring semester.

“We recognize the important

role mental health plays in the lives and success of students, and want to ensure that students have as much access to mental healthcare as they do access to other opportunities,” the final report said.

During CAPS’ unit presentation last month, Ngo focused on the difficulties the department faced in bringing in new counselors.

According to the presentation, CAPS offers a significantly lower entry level salary than other mental health providers in Houston.

In one comparison featured during the presentation, Ngo said the University of Texas Medical Branch offered nearly $30,000 more than CAPS for an equally qualified position.

The immediate funding increase will allow CAPS to provide a more competitive salary to new hires. Ngo said the depart-

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Counseling and Pscyhological Services Director Norma Ngo received enough funding for CAPS to hire four new counselers. | Jasmine Davis/The Cougar

ment also plans to increase the salaries of current counselors, which will help CAPS retain more professionals long-term.

“This will definitely help ease the high turnover rate in employment at CAPS,” said Crystal Tran, who serves as a student repre-

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sentative on the CAPS Advisory Committee.

According to the presentation, since CAPS offers lower salaries than most mental health competitors, the turnaround time is about two or three years before counselors move on to a position with more competitive pay.

When counselors leave CAPS within just a few years, it decreases the availability of counseling services to students as well as being costly for the department. In fiscal years 2015 and 2016, the department spent 1,000 staff hours and $10,000 on hiring searches.

“We would like to post our positions by January 2017,” Ngo said.

“The earlier we start, the better chance we have of recruiting our top choice candidates.”

The International Association of Counseling Services recommends a staff to student ratio of 1:1500, which would ensure reasonable availability of counseling services to students.

The University of Houston has more than double the recommended number of students per counselor at 1:3369.

“With the stigma around addressing mental health and its subsequent disorders slowly dissipating, more and more students are looking to CAPS to utilize its services,” Tran said. “CAPS has been struggling to properly accommodate each and every student.”

According to a recent article from The Texas Tribune, UH has the most students per counselor of Texas’ large public universities.

The University of Texas at Austin, for example, comes in first at

MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING

Continues on page 4

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Emily Burleson, EDITOR

UH SYSTEM

College of Tech move source of frustration JULIE ARAICA

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @JULIEARAICA

Several technology students will switch gears next semester — and some are not happy about it.

This spring, the biotechnology program within the College of Technology will transfer to UH's satellite campus in Sugar Land.

This is third program to migrate to the Sugar Land campus after the digital media program relocated there in 2014, followed by the industrial branch of the construction management program.

The mechanical engineering technology program is the last program scheduled to move after the construction of a new, 150,000 square feet building is complete.

While faculty saw the move coming, many technology students feel unprepared and have mixed reactions.

Chris Sanderson, the Student Government Association's

College of Technology senator, doesn't feel that students were properly informed about this move and believes they should've been told sooner.

“It’s a pretty big deal that the college is shifting away and nobody really knows what’s going on,” Sanderson said.

Commuter students are concerned about having to extend their drive to and from school, especially if they're coming from other classes. The drive from the main campus to the Sugar Land location takes approximately 40 minutes without traffic.

Computer engineering technology senior Quynh Dinh said that many of her friends in biotechnology and construction management program are not happy about the move.

“One of my friends who is in the (industrial) construction management program has class over there and he lives on campus, so that’s pretty far —

Sanderson argues that prospective and current students are ill-informed about the move. | Jasmine Davis/The Cougar

almost 30 miles from here,” Dinh said. “I have friends that live an hour away, and going to Sugar Land is like going to the other side of the world for them.”

Even so, Dinh felt that students were given an adequate amount of time to prepare for the move when it was announced this Fall.

Digital media junior Joshua Espinoza, who already has

COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Continues on page 4

4 | Wednesday, November 30, 2016

NEWS 713-743-5314

MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING

Continued from page 2

1,818 students per staff member.

If CAPS successfully hires the four new counselors, the staff to student ratio at UH should shift to 1:2737, Ngo said. That ratio is based on Fall 2016 enrollment

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tion, students at UH wait weeks between making an appointment and actually seeing a counselor.

“There is a demand on behalf of students for greater, more accessible services than what are currently offered,” said SFAC Chair and student Brinda Pen-

“With the stigma around addressing mental health and its subsequent disorders slowly dissipating, more and more students are looking to CAPS to utilize its services.”

Crystal Tran, CAPS Advisory Committee member

numbers.

“In a hypothetical scenario in which we were approved to receive one new clinical staff per year, and enrollment did not increase beyond 43,797, we would not reach the 1:1500 ratio until fiscal year 2030,” Ngo said.

According to the presenta-

metsa. “We had an opportunity to meet that need, and did so by approving requests that will allow for the improved hiring and retaining of counselors, thus moving toward a more beneficial counselor to student ratio.” news@thedailycougar.com

news@thedailycougar.com

Emily Burleson, EDITOR

COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Continued from page 3

classes in the Sugar Land campus, said that the move is not as unpleasant as students think and is ultimately worth it.

“I think that this move will actually be beneficial because things are so much more centralized over there," Espinoza said.

"There’s a lot better equipment and everything is so much more personalized to different majors."

College of Technology Dean Neil Eldin said that President and Chancellor Renu Khator ultimately made the decision to move the programs. He also said that it was his job to inform all students of the relocation and provide ways to make the transition less stressful.

Eldin said he went to five different biotechnology classrooms, met the students and explained to them why the move was important. He also allowed the students to ask questions and give feedback.

“As the dean, my input is making sure that the move is

facilitated and stress-free for the students," Eldin said. "Creating the exact timing for the move, making sure that all the labs are the best they can be, trying to make the move smart."

To make the move less

Population of the College of Technology

Driving distance between UH and Sugar Land campus

Commute between campuses during rush hour

Flagship UH Sugar Land programs Digital Media & Nursing

tense, Eldin made sure all biotechnology classes are only offered three days of the week.

His goal was to allow driving time for students who need to be on the main campus for other

courses.

Plans for a shuttle are also being finalized, Eldin said.

Currently, the shuttle that takes students to the Sugar Land campus arrives at specific times, but Eldin is trying to implement a by-the-hour shuttle to help students.

New neighborhood, new opportunities While there are different reasons for these programs moving, the most important was the need to accommodate the growing number of students.

“We went from around 2,000 to 3,000 students to over 6,000 students,” Eldin said. “Right now, we have three buildings on the main campus and we already outgrew them all.”

Eldin estimated that in a couple of years, the Sugar Land campus will house about 2,000 students within the College of Technology alone. He said that there is a possibility for other programs within the college to move to Sugar Land, but the transitions will be gradual.

However, Eldin believes it is unlikely that the entire college will eventually move to Sugar Land due to financial constraints and the number of buildings that would need to be built — including two or three just for the College of Technology.

Sanderson, however, believes that once a new building is constructed in Sugar Land, UH will also move other programs from different colleges off campus.

“If I recall correctly, UH is also building off of 99 and Interstate 10," Sanderson said. "So with more expansion, it doesn’t seem like just the College of Technology will be leaving and that there will be a lot of different parts of the university moving overtime."

To Eldin, this is not a bad thing. He believes that expanding the reach of the University can help benefit the students by generating internships and jobs.

William Fitzgibbon, the former College of Technology dean, declined to comment on the move, feeling that it was no longer his place to. He did, however, leave one comment about UH and the College of Technology.

“Curiously enough, history shows that the success of the College of Technology parallels that of the University,” Fitzgibbon said. “When the College of Technology does well, UH does well.” news@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 | 5

713-743-5314 ACADEMICS

Bauer professor inspires original entrepreneurship

“He would bring startups to class and make them practice their pitch,” Kassaye said. “Then he would tell us to ‘rip them apart.’”

Jones would actively call on each

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student to participate in class. If the student didn’t know the answer, he would question why they didn’t ask him to clarify the concept.

“He had tendencies to be in-your-

NEWS

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Emily Burleson, EDITOR

face and challenge the answers that you gave,” Cho said. “The purpose was not to be aggressive, but rather he wanted to teach the class to be confident in our final decisions."

Continue reading online

thedailycougar.com

TIFFANY WANG

STAFF WRITER @TIFFANYRFWANG

As director of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, Kenneth Jones has heard thousands of ideas.

Jones’ role at the University has evolved since starting at UH as an adjunct professor. After making his mark at the Wolff Center, he is now also the executive director for the Center for Industrial Partnerships at UH. “My favorite course to teach at UH was always the intro course to entrepreneurship,” Jones said.

“If I reach one person in there and I affect the trajectory of where they’re headed then I call that a win. To get people excited about entrepreneurship is pretty fun.”

Jones, who received his MBA at UH, also sets up the entrepreneurship program at University of Houston-Downtown. In previous years, he has taught several business courses.

Beacon for students Entrepreneurship senior Kevin Cho said Jones was one of the most inspirational and life-changing mentors he had ever worked with.

Cho cited Jones and his experience as the source behind a significant amount of personal and professional growth.

“I had never met anyone like him,” Cho said. “He could be interpreted as pushy and overly militant about every little mistake you make. In reality, he was a person I could always trust to tell me where I needed to improve as an entrepreneur.”

Cho is part of the team behind Sensytec, a company that focuses on smart cement technologythat lets users monitor the conditions of cement structures in real-time.

Jones, with his experience in business, helped the team at every step as an adviser. He helped with their business model and determined whom they should contact and helped them establish connections.

Jones also worked out legal details that the team members had no experience in.

Cho said they were always able to run their ideas by Jones so that they could safely make decisions. They felt confident with him as one of their most important teachers and strategic advisers.

Yotham Kassaye, a marketing senior, saw Jones as a hands-on professor after taking one of his classes.

O I D A R G O CO

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A community shapes families in historic ward AJANI STEWART

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Janice Brown is at UH almost every single day, but not as a student.

She resides in Third Ward and knows the campus as well as the any other student or faculty member. She needs water, shelter, food and compassion just as any other human does.

Janice works at the C-Store in the Student Center South and has lived in Houston her entire life, spending most of her time in Pearland. After arriving in Third Ward she started volunteering for the Self-Help for African People through Education community center. SHAPE’s main office has operated at the corner of Alabama and Live Oak for 47 years.

“There’s a lot of things that matter when it comes to lives," Brown said.

Houston today is recognized for modern art, grassroots diversity and pop culture references from Drake and Travis Scott.

If Third Ward appears separated, the disconnection can be traced with Houston’s growing modernity. The community’s history, associated with historic movements and cultural appreciation throughout its existence, has not fleeted easily.

Although there is evidence of higher crime and poverty rates on Houston’s east side, statistics often lack the component of true engagement.

But the resilience of Third Ward is what stands out. In this era of information and fast changing trends, the community is holding on to its history from the pull of modernity.

But on the east side of Houston, the historic Third Ward is an area in The population reflects this resilience ongoing transition. Third Ward’s through SHAPE community center, which population changed as suburbs and other has operated for on a core principle of settlements grew on Houston’s outskirts, “strong family, strong nation”. Deloyd Parker a which were previously occupied by Jewish co-founder of SHAPE has been the executive and white Americans. Black Americans director for all 47 years of SHAPE’s existence. then moved in creating jobs, business and Parker, who has molded the community opportunity where they were first denied center for almost a half century, is in on the basis of skin color. accordance with his community and what SHAPE can offer.

According to Ezell Wilson’s article on the history of Third Ward, “One of the One word has used in abundance in the decisive actions against Jim Crow and United States: change. Change is promised segregation in Houston was a sit-in at the on almost a daily basis—for better or worse. lunch counter in Weingarten’s”.

It promotes growth and gives people the opportunity to challenge their conditioned This is not a history lesson. The identity beliefs. of Third Ward lives on through the individuals that reside there, an identity The upbringing and past experiences of all that mimics the students who sat-in people serve as the foundation for moving at Weingarten’s or the individuals who forward in life. While certain beliefs can opened Riverside Hospital in response remain constant throughout the lives of to poor treatment at from general people, change can dictate and challenge physicians. contrasting perspectives to give meaning to the things we value in life.

“It provided a place for Black physicians and nurses to work and train," Wilson wrote.

The people of Third Ward carry with them subtle change through growth. People like “Gentrification has made inroads in to Janice Brown and Deloyd Parker who are some parts of the neighborhood, while not easily swayed in their beliefs but allow other areas are poorly maintained," change through solidarity. They don’t matter Wilson wrote, making it seem as if because of their skin color or politic beliefs, the work put into the once segregated but because they are human. They are our community is not fulfilled. people.

Janice Brown oversees the majority of operations while she works at UH’s busiest C-Store. Janice uses her job as an opportunity to strengthen herself financially to pay for her own housing and help support her family. She started cosmetology school after graduating from high school.

Janice and her boyfriend Josh, who live together, sift through bills from living expenses. Although this is regular practice for Janice, her finances are not solely for herself. In the past she has helped pay her brothers school tuition and provided her parents with money when they needed it.

Brother Deloyd Parker, the executive director of SHAPE Center, provides instructions to Phyllis regarding the multitude of activities that keep the community center running 6 days a week. According to Deloyd, SHAPE was born out of the civil rights movement and more specifically the Byron Gilliam case in response to injustice within the community.

Janice and Josh traveled out to the southeast side of the city to pick up medicine after she couldn’t make it to work for the week due to sickness. A longtime friend of Janice’s boyfriend, Cecil lives outside the proper boundaries of Third Ward, but still provides wisdom that can be found in most of Houston’s eastern residents.

Janice uses her breathing treatment while packing to depart for a small family reunion at the weekend.

The trip would have comprised of a drive to Galveston and a cruise along the Gulf Coast had it not been called off. In her free time Janice enjoys occasional partying, but holds her family in a higher regard than whatever making money and going out can provide. During her time at SHAPE she helped with everything from cooking to cleaning.

The active staff of the community center is composed of 90% volunteers who help with audits, evictions, table talks, and legal advising. All volunteers must go through the full day orientation that is offered whether the individual is trying to provide an extra hand or fulfill community service hours. SHAPE identifies as an inclusive center open for anyone looking to take steps toward the seven cultural principles they adhere to. This includes unity, self-determination, collective work, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 | 7

Brother Deloyd has guided SHAPE through 47 years of growth in politics, activism and community involvement. Close partnerships with TSU and other local establishments have yielded positive results just through association. SHAPE’s very own annual Freedom Tour, which has seen 27 years, displays an ideal of the youth’s importance and recognition of the role black history has played in the United States. Strong ties with the capitol also reflect with SHAPE’s involvement in the Million Man March and packing Dallas courts to oppose the death penalty.

On the east side of Houston, the historic Third Ward is an area in ongoing transition. The Third Ward’s inception was brought about through the ward system established in Houston. Third Ward’s population shifted as suburbs and other settlements grew on outskirts previously occupied by affluent Jewish and white Americans. Black Americans then moved in. In the process, they creaed jobs, business, and opportunity where they were first denied on the basis of skin color.

"A strong family constitutes a strong nation."

Deloyd Parker, co-founder and executive director of SHAPE Janice’s work schedule doesn’t give her much free time to do all the things she wants, including spending time with her family. She is aware that there are certain sacrifices to be made in the name of responsibility; and if the sacrifices we make are in vain then the burden of responsibility and growth becomes less significant. An important value she learned from SHAPE is “knowing that we are all we have.”

"(SHAPE) gives you a lot of experience and integrity.

It makes you keep going, being around him and how humble he is."

Janice Brown, on Deloyd Parker

Edith Irby Jones holds embraces a young volunteer in prayer before the Elders Institute of Wisdom holds their meeting. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the elders of the community gather at SHAPE to create an area for discourse and knowledge. Jones was the first African American to be admitted as a non-segregated student to an all white school; she later earned a degree from the University of Arkansas. Ed Banks, or the Mayor of Third Ward, and singer Jewel Brown are also among the ranks of experienced elders from all walks of life within the Houston area.

“I wasn't elated about that, I just wanted to be a doctor.”

Edith Jones, first black student admitted as a non-segregated student

8 | Wednesday, November 30, 2016

OPINION 713-743-5304

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opinion@thedailycougar.com

Frank Campos, EDITOR

SPORTS

Era of Herman ends, but another great one can begin

S

orry guys, like the reality that Donald Trump will be our next president, we must come to terms with head coach Tom Herman leaving our school for the University of Texas.

Although a surprise to some, this was probably a no-brainer for Herman. He had almost certainly reached the proverbial American Athletic Conference summit after leading our team to its first conference championship since 2006 and winning the FRANK Peach Bowl CAMPOS against the OPINION EDITOR Florida State Seminoles last year in a win heard around the U.S. The truth is, UH has always been a stepping stone for the man who also coached under Urban Meyer at Ohio State University. He also won assistant coach of the year during that time.

Although a hard pill to swallow,

Herman is now a spectacular part of history, it is time to stop reminiscing and look to the future . If not we are doomed to fail. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

Herman has chosen the prestige, notoriety and allure of UT instead of staying with the underdog and oftentimes-overlooked Cougars.

Good for him.

That’s right, at the risk of being chastised, I completely see the logic in a man choosing one of the

greatest schools for college football ever over our school. Herman had to jump at the chance at the UT vacancy.

Football may be the driving force for UH now, but a team can go from the top to the bottom rather quickly, especially with a poor

recruiting class and a group of kids who you have to figure out how to motivate.

If Herman chose to stay and failed to continue his success, he would likely be forgotten. For his family and his career, UT was exactly the right move.

It sucks, but Herman doesn’t make our team. Don’t get me wrong, I know his coaching makes our team exceptionally better, but to take him leaving as a sign of doom is to just not know how sports work.

Many fans are sad, angry and ready to give up. Pump the brakes.

Yes, it was awesome to see Herman embrace UH and Houston culture.

He even got a grill made in our school’s honor and his pregame kissing ritual. These things made him special, but they didn’t make him irreplaceable.

The road for our next coach won't be easy. Some fans will likely be disappointed, others happy.

One certain thing, however, is that UH will not settle for mediocrity.

Herman and our team have put

the Cougars back on the map.

The candidates applying for the position will be the same coaches that were probably looked at by UT and Louisiana State University, so don’t worry.

The most important factor in all this is our young and hungry players. Leaders like Ed Oliver and Duke Catalon are ready to put this team and this city on their backs.

Let’s not treat them like they were only as good as their coach.

They deserve better than that after continuing to fight through so much adversity during the last two years.

Although Herman is now a spectacular part of history, it is time to stop reminiscing and look forward to everything we can accomplish if we can move on.

It is time to realize how good our team is and can be regardless of who is at the helm.

Opinion editor Frank Campos is a media production senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

BUSINESS

Sacrificing morals for the sake of political candidates

D

onald Trump has won the election. The rising numbers leading up to his victory speech were surreal. You could hear the U.S. tearing at the seams as people wept.s As the world looked on, a choir-like “WTF” was sung. After DANA slowly trying JONES to swallow the COLUMNIST truth, I wondered why this

was so surprising. How could the country be both blindsided and warmly embracing in respective corners?

I have meticulously followed this election. I have reviewed polls, debates, interviews and everything in between. I have seen the consensus almost always in favor of Hillary Clinton.

Trump turned in a sub-par performance in the debates while Clinton showcased her prowess.

From a variety of media sources, it seemed clear that Clinton would

have had smooth sailings right into the White House.

Everyone in my immediate and extended circle was pro-Clinton: peers, social media and even my professors, after I'd deciphered their coded phrases.

I can count on one finger how many Trump supporters I have met personally, and even they were cynical of his presidential abilities.

While reminiscing on this fact, I had to admit that someone voted for Trump.

With this fact staring me in the

face, I was utterly confused as to where this overwhelming support spawned.

It all came together after my isolated pondering: The people who voted for Trump, who I’m sure could be as close as classmates or coworkers, were not willing to face the backlash of projecting their support.

They did not want to deal with the social repercussions. This is especially for the ones attending an inordinately liberal school, where advocating for a person like Trump

would be social suicide.

With this realization, I beg the question: If you are uncomfortable with publicly validating your pick for the leader of your country, was there no red flag to motivate you to — at minimum — ask why you are picking this person?

The conservative (or, from its perspective, liberal) spectrum is not wrong for their current and expanding views. You can think differently than the next person and still be a wholesome individual.

POLITICS

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713-743-5304

The outcome of the election is not the fault of one holistic property or group.

However, the thought process of singling out mass groups of specific people and then isolate them, socially or legislatively, is not a matter of “good” politics. Christianity or other forces can't also cover it.

This election has shown that the U.S. is willing to pardon social obstructions to people's spaces, an anti-socially progressive rhetoric as well as an uncanny lack of inclusiveness and toleration.

With the constant perpetuation of racism, sexism, Islamophobia,

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Trey Strange

MANAGING EDITOR

Bryce Dodds

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Leah Nash

CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Nguyen Le

NEWS EDITORS

Emily Burleson Alex Meyer Marialuisa Rincon SPORTS EDITORS

Reagan Earnst Jonathan Valadez

OPINION EDITORS

Frank Campos Thom Dwyer ARTS EDITORS

Karis Johnson Greg Fails PHOTO EDITORS

Justin Cross Ajani Stewart

xenophobia, anti-Semitism and white supremacy, an unsatisfactory demonstration of morale is revealed. These acts are now banners, and Trump is now the U.S.'

figurehead for the upcoming term.

I hope the light can be found as protests continue. I hope that the children who are afraid for their livelihoods continue to keep their

OPINION

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Frank Campos, EDITOR

heads up.

I hope my identity, like that of other marginalized bodies, is held sacred and kept safe.

Lastly, I hope that President-elect

Trump proves me wrong.

Opinion columnist Dana Jones is a print journalism junior and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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SENIOR STAFF

Julie Araica Caprice Carter Bruce Chao Jasmine Davis Peter Scamardo Jorden Smith

STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author.

Opinions expressed in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.

GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be limited to 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies, but rather should present independent points of view. Deliver submissions to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@ thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384.

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Reagan Earnst, EDITOR

FOOTBALL

Herman leaves behind winning culture at UH REAGAN EARNST

SPORTS EDITOR @REAGANEARNST

When Tom Herman was put in charge of the UH football team Dec. 16, 2014, many did not know what they were getting in the new head coach. Although impressive in his time as the offensive coordinator at the Ohio State University, Herman made an unprecedented impact at UH. As confetti rained down from the rafters of AT&T Stadium in Arlington following the Buckeyes’ national title Jan. 12, 2015, players and coaches threw on their commemorative hats that have become typical attire for championship celebration’s in sports.

Not Herman.

The freshly hired head coach immediately donned a red UH hat and presented the “Cougar Paw” despite what he had just achieved with another university. The gesture impressed UH fans and alum.

It also proved his unwavering commitment to the University from the beginning.

Winning game plan For Herman, there was no time to celebrate. He had a tall task in front of him, but he was ready.

In his introductory press conference, he laid out his plan for his tenure. Herman said he asked for the players' trust upon meeting them for the first time and that he would turn that blind trust into earned trust.

He promised that his team would be the mentally and physically toughest team on the field and that they would compete from the time they

Former head coach Tom Herman revitalized the University of Houston's football program and left a lasting impact that will be felt by students, alumni and fans for years to come. He confirmed months of speculation when he accepted an offer to become UT's next head football coach Saturday. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

brushed their teeth in the morning to laying their head on their pillow for the night.

Herman assured fans that he would provide a team that was exciting to watch.

Among his goals was to give the city of Houston a “hometown college football team” that they can be proud of. He wanted students and alumni to fill the stands of TDECU Stadium as well as Houstonians who want to see the Cougars compete.

Herman led the Cougars to their first New Year's Six Bowl win in 30 years with a 38-24 victory in the 2015 Peach Bowl. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

By achieving every goal that he laid out in his opening press conference, Herman revolutionized college football both at UH and in Houston. The rise to prominence that the program experienced in Herman's two years was not expected and anything but given.

He inherited a team that managed just a 20-17 record under former head coach Tony Levine, who struggled to recruit among the football-power universities in Texas. Herman focused his recruiting campaign on keeping Houston-area high school talent in the city.

In doing so, he landed the highest ranked Group of Five recruit in five-star defensive lineman Ed Oliver from Westfield High School.

On the whole, Herman’s recruiting classes rivaled even some of Texas’ top universities, a feat that was unimaginable under previous head coaches.

The Cougars had been plagued with mediocrity since the departure of Case Keenum earlier this decade and lagging fan support. Herman made it a point to get students to the games and realized that the easiest way to do so was to win.

That’s what he did.

Herman's legacy The Cougars went a perfect 14-0 at home in Herman’s tenure, including a 2-0 record at neutral sites. He left the team with the longest home winning streak in the nation at 15 games.

He made a team of largely two and three-star recruits who bought into a culture of love and trust that propelled them past the nation’s top teams.

Herman went 6-0 in games against AP Top 25-ranked opponents, including a 5-0 record against opponents from Power Five conferences.

Herman gave a largely commuter fanbase a reason to make an extra trip to UH on the weekends to see his team play.

Thanks to his efforts, students who previously had little interest in college athletics loaded up buses and embarked on a 12-hour journey to Atlanta to see the team capture a Peach Bowl Championship over highly-touted Florida State University Dec. 31, 2015.

The former head coach was a proponent for improving the school’s athletic facilities. By

the help of his lobbying, he gave the football team a $1 million locker room renovation and an indoor practice facility scheduled for completion next fall.

UH is now a top candidate to join a Power Five conference when opportunities next present themselves. Before Herman, the Cougars would likely be looked past immediately.

Although UH propelled yet another coach to a more high-profile job within the state, the Cougars will undoubtedly be thankful for Herman’s time at the helm. The Herman-era ended as quick as it began, but his tenure could go down as one of the most influential in the history of the program.

Whomever the next coach may be, they will inherit a program that is in far better shape than it was two years ago, with a fan base and administration with rightfully raised expectations.

Perhaps the biggest impact that Herman leaves behind is that winning is no longer just an option at UH. It’s expected. sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 | 11

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COACHING

Hunt for Cougars' new head coach begins in house JONATHAN VALADEZ

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @JONOUNSEEN

The Cougars ended their once-promising regular season on a sour note with a loss to the University of Memphis, although the blows didn’t end there.

Less than 24 hours after UH’s third loss of the season, former head coach Tom Herman signed a five-year, $5 million deal with incentives to become the University of Texas’ new head coach.

Although there were rumors about such a move all season, even as Herman dodged questions about his future throughout the year, the announcement still sent shockwaves throughout the UH community, especially as the Cougars prepare for their fourth straight bowl game.

This isn’t the first time that UH has been in this position, though. Three of the last four Houston head coaches have used their position as a stepping-stone to go on to coach at a Power 5 school in Texas.

Art Briles started the trend when he took over at Baylor University, followed by Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M University, and now Herman is the latest opportunist.

Herman’s departure leaves a vacancy at one of the hottest Group of 5 universities in the country, and there is much to be desired about the position.

UH’s president and its board of regents have made winning a priority on campus and have invested money in facilities.

They were also willing to go into a bidding war with the much-wealthier UT over Herman had it come down to it.

The job should also be desired because of the fact that it is located in one of the most heavily recruited areas in the country.

Eight percent of ESPN’s top 100 players are from the area, and one of this year’s best freshmen, Ed Oliver, is from Houston.

UH has hired Collegiate Sports Associates to assist in the search for Herman’s replacement, but in the meantime, the Cougars get a glimpse of a potential candidate after defensive coordinator Todd Orlando was named the interim coach.

In addition to Orlando, there are several names who have been linked to the vacancy.

Here are some of the options that CSA will likely consider:

UH defensive coordinator Todd Orlando Herman received the majority of the credit for finishing 22-4 during his time at UH, but Orlando’s contribution with his innovative defensive schemes should not be overlooked.

Last year, the Cougars finished with the eighth-best run defense and were second in the nation this year. His defense has also had a knack for taking the ball away during his two seasons at UH, finishing with 53 takeaways.

Although Orlando has been dubbed a defensive mastermind, it does not mean that his success as a coordinator will transfer to a head coaching position.

Former UT defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was also an up-and-coming defensive coordinator before taking the head job at the University of Florida, where he only lasted four years before stepping down.

As mentioned previously, though, Orlando gets the first opportunity as the Cougars’ head coach and needs a statement win over the team’s bowl opponent to boost his resume.

UH offensive coordinator Major Applewhite Like Orlando, Applewhite has also shown interest in the vacancy and helped Herman turn senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. into a formidable pocket passer.

In his two seasons at UH, Applewhite was the brain behind a Cougar offense that totaled 484.1 yards per game last year and 459.2 this season.

If he lands the job, it will help ease the transition on the offensive side, and the Cougars will remain an up-tempo unit, which is the style where their current personnel will excel.

Applewhite played football at UT and was a co-offensive coordinator there, so there’s a chance that he’ll follow Herman, especially if he does not land the head-coaching job at UH.

West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen Holgorsen’s name has been linked to UH since Herman left and for good reason. While he’s only 45-30 in his time at West Virginia, he is coming off of his best year there, as the Mountaineers have the 10th-best offense in the country.

There is speculation that he would not leave a Power 5 school

for a Group of 5, but Holgorsen spent time at UH as the offensive coordinator from 2008-2009 when the Cougars installed the air raid offense that was orchestrated by Case Keenum.

Holgorsen also turned down a contract extension from WVU in early May and is in the final year of his current contract, so UH would avoid a buyout if they hired him.

Holgorsen could help turn quarterbacks Kyle Allen and D’Eriq King into sure-fire passers much like he was able to do with Keenum.

Other coaches who have been rumored for the job include the University of California’s Sonny Dykes, the University of Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, who is an up-and-coming coach much like Herman in 2014, and the University of Tulsa’s Phillip Montgomery.

No matter who the Cougars

Former defensive coordinator Todd Orlando was named the interim head coach upon Tom Herman's departure for the University of Texas. | File photo/The Cougar

target, though, they need to ensure that the contract comes with a bigger buyout to try to scare away bigger schools from

targeting and poaching UH’s coaches. sports@thedailycougar.com

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TRACK

International experience, coach's guidance propel sprinter PETER SCAMARDO

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @PLSCAMARDO2

For sophomore sprinter Mario Burke, using what he has learned in international competitions coupled with the star-studded UH coaching staff has him on track to reach for his Olympic dreams. | File Photo/The Cougar

Your first job after college can look like this.

Do the unexpected.

Apply by January 1: peacecorps.gov/apply

If one sophomore on the Cougar track and field team is able to get his already impressive 100m dash time down to 10 seconds flat by the time he graduates, he will be in company with many world-class sprinters. The goal time would make him the fastest person in his home country, top 10 in the world and possibly eligible for the 2020 Olympics.

Second-year sprinter Mario Burke is using his global record and prestigious coaching staff to throttle his collegiate running career toward becoming an eventual Olympic champion in the near future.

When Burke arrived in Houston last season for his first year on the team, he was already on the heels of a successful showing at the 2015 Caribbean Free Trade Association Games from Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Barbados native joined prestigious company when he won both the 100m and 200m events at the CARIFTA Games.

It was a competition that has vaulted the careers of many Olympic-level athletes in the Caribbean.

Running with pride With that experience under his belt, Burke had a lot of expectations when he came to compete for head coach Leroy Burrell’s team. Burke fulfilled his goals — and then some — when he proved to be a key piece in the Cougars’ 4x100m relay team and various sprinting events during the indoor and outdoor seasons.

“My first season was an experience in itself,” Burke said. “(There were) a lot of ups and downs, but I got adjusted to the program pretty fast. I was able to get a good season under my belt in my first year. Besides the fact I didn’t qualify for the Olympics, I lived up to the coach’s expectations.

They’re all proud of me.”

Burke may have missed out on the Olympics, but he followed up his regular season with an invitation to represent his home nation at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

This came just after Burke helped the Cougars to a second-place finish in the 4x100m relay at the NCAA Outdoor Nationals and added more to his already-growing trophy case.

At the meet in Bydgoszcz, Burke made history as his bronze

medal in the 100m was the first medal earned by Barbados in the games' history. Burke saw the event as a confidence booster entering the 2017 indoor season beginning Dec. 10.

“Knowing that I was able to represent my country, my university, myself and my family, and being known as the third-fastest under 20 in the world is a great feeling,” Burke said. “Right now, you could say I’m in the best shape I ever was. Once I’m confident mentally, it translates into my body.”

Assistant coach and nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis was well aware of Burke’s potential when he came to Houston.

Lewis saw that he was capable of having success, but only if he was able to stay healthy for an entire season, a feat that Burke had never done before.

Made for success During Burke's first year, Lewis put him through a program designed to get him in top shape and running confident in the 100m dash. Burke accomplished both in his freshman season, and Lewis is ecstatic for how he can improve his 100m times in his sophomore season.

“Mario went from a 10.3 (seconds) to occasional 10.5 to a 10.2 solid,” Lewis said. “That’s a huge jump. This year, I want him to jump down as a 10.0 guy consistently. That’s the difference from going to regionals and being in the finals at nationals. I really think he can do that.”

Lewis said that he is unsure of what Burke cannot accomplish.

In what Lewis sees as a benefit, Burke is not yet expected to be a leader as the team already has multiple tenured sprinters. Also, Burke will likely not have any other events to train for, which allows him to solely focus on his craft.

With Burke constantly looking to improve and a team with skyhigh aspirations, Lewis and the other coaches have reason to be excited about the season.

“Right now, if everyone stays healthy, this will be the greatest spring program in the history of the NCAA,” Lewis said. “These guys right here. Period. No question. They’re going to set all the records, they’re going to win all the championships. If they don’t do anything crazy, they’ve got the ability to do it.” sports@thedailycougar.com