Defeats On The Field Lead To Job Losses On The Sidelines

A less-than-stellar season has led to several firings and demotions on the UT Longhorn coaching staff.

By Laura RiceDecember 2, 2019 7:02 am,

December is the time of year when college football teams with less-than-stellar records shed members of their coaching staff. And the pros aren’t far behind. At the University of Texas-Austin, this year’s disappointing win-loss record led to the firing and demotions of several assistant coaches.

Daron Roberts is founding director of the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation at the University of Texas at Austin. He says the day after the end of a season like the Longhorns had is referred to as “black Sunday” for the potential carnage done to coaching staffs.

Roberts says the number and importance of the coaching changes made by Head Coach Tom Herman reflects the high expectations of Longhorn fans and donors.

“Texas is the epicenter of irrational exuberance,” Roberts says. “I think that we as a fan base expect ourselves to be at the Alabama, LSU, sort of level, where we’re in contention each year.”

On the other hand, there’s some reason to feel those expectations are justified, Roberts says.

“We’re in the riches, hotbed of recruiting talent in the country, so it can be done,” Roberts says.

In Dallas, another football coach’s job is at risk, following the Cowboys’ loss to the Buffalo Bills, Roberts says the team’s coach, Jason Garrett, could lose his job if Dallas can’t reach and win this season’s Super Bowl.

“This is a team that’s underperformed,” Roberts says. “They’ve arguably got the best running back in the league, one of the emerging quarterbacks in the league.”

He says it will take a “turnaround miracle” for Garrett to keep his job.

 

Written by Shelly Brisbin.