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Tom Herman Praises Urban Meyer’s ‘One Vision, One Message’
Houston head coach Tom Herman learned a lot from mentor Urban Meyer. Now, he is implementing some of those lessons into his Cougars program.
October 19, 2016
Houston head coach Tom Herman learned a lot from mentor Urban Meyer, and now he is implementing some of those lessons into his Cougars program.
There’s no question that Tom Herman will be the most highly sought free agent on the coaching market this offseason, which is no coincidence when you consider that his Houston squad won every game except one in his debut 2015 season, including the Peach Bowl against Florida State.
Even before the Cougars won six out of their first seven games this year, Herman had been linked to both LSU and Texas, the latter of which Charlie Strong—fair or not—is essentially fighting for a fourth year in Austin.
No matter what the future holds for Herman, who had a verbal agreement with Houston that he would get a $5 million bonus if the school was to be accepted into the Big 12, a bigger payday and a head gig in a Power Five conference is inevitable. And a lot of that brighter future is owed to Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.
Herman was brought aboard the Buckeyes’ staff by Meyer as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after leading successful offenses at Texas State, Rice and Iowa State. A few years later, after helping Ohio State to a fourth-ranked offense and a national championship, Herman’s coaching toolbox—complete with knowledge gained while working with Meyer—left for Houston.
“I probably learned from him, what I didn’t know before, the importance of alignment,” Herman told the Seth Davis Show. “Everybody has to be aligned with one vision, one message. The expectations in the academic center have to be the same as the expectations on the practice field, as well as in the training room and in the weight room.
“I think the head coach has to disseminate what the expectations are and what the message is. But the message has to be aligned and continually driven home to the player.”
Herman has been able to establish a cohesiveness in all aspects of his Cougars program, and that is something that is not often seen—especially so early after a new coaching hire. No matter whether he is in Houston for the long haul or roaming a Power Five sideline soon, expect that to continue.
After all, he learned from one of the most successful head coaches in the modern era, and one of the best of all-time.
