FAU introduces new football head coach Tom Herman in Friday press conference
Tom Herman garnered plenty of success throughout his stints as a football head coach at the University of Houston and the University of Texas. Now, he will look to carry that over to Florida Atlantic University.
Two years after leaving Texas, Herman accepted FAU’s offer after the university fired Willie Taggart following the season-ending defeat to Western Kentucky on Nov. 26.
FAU formally introduced Herman as the eighth head coach in the football program’s history in a press conference at the Schmidt Family Complex on Friday afternoon, starting with President John Kelly and Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White.
Kelly looked at Herman’s accomplishments at Houston and Texas, which ended with an overall record of 54-22, including a 5-0 performance in bowl games.
“Herman is a winner; he wins at everything he does,” Kelly said. “He is going to transform FAU into something that the whole country is going to know about.”
Kelly also talked about FAU preparing for the American Athletic Conference in 2023, which will allow the university to showcase itself in the national spotlight.
“You want a leader in place that’s doing that and doing it with the best of ethics, that’s Tom Herman,” Kelly said. “His ability as a coach, his ability to win young minds over, [and] his ability to help young people find their full potential, there’s nobody like him.”
White went to the podium next, explaining that Herman was the first and only candidate FAU offered the head coaching job to.
“Every box we could have possibly thought that needed to be checked for our next coach, Herman checked every single one of those boxes,” White said. “We were ecstatic and zoned in on him as soon as we realized we had a chance to get him here in paradise.”
Herman lastly took the stage, thanking Kelly and White for presenting him the opportunity to coach at FAU.
“The foundation that has been laid by President Kelly and the leadership crew here at Florida Atlantic University is second to none, and it has made this job such an attractive place,” Herman said. “I knew right away when I talked to Brian [White], that the leadership team here was truly aligned, and one that I would be extremely excited to work with.”
Herman also thanked FAU students and fans for creating a “vibrant atmosphere” in the football program, and the players for energizing him as he gets set to take the team to new heights in 2023.
“I cannot wait to get into all of the local high schools here in South Florida and throughout the state of Florida, and spread the good news of what’s to come for FAU football,” Herman said. “This is a dream come true. I can’t wait to win and win a whole lot in paradise. Go Owls.”
Richard Pereira is the News Editor for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email richusa26@gmail.com or tweet him @Rich26Pereira.
Latest University Press
- Football: Three former FAU players go undrafted in the NFLThis year’s National Football League Draft took place on April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While no former Florida Atlantic players were drafted, three have signed as “undrafted rookie free agents” with NFL teams. All three of these players attended the university’s Pro Day on March 25 and showcased their best agility, speed and strength...
- Farewell from UP Editor-In-Chief Sofia De La EspriellaI was very hesitant to write this letter because I’ll never forget that in one of my first journalism lessons in Colombia, the professor kept repeating: “Journalists are never the news. We are never in the spotlight.” But in this case, I felt the need to say goodbye properly and thank you. Three years ago,...
- FAU seeks input from faculty and staff in search of a new provostFlorida Atlantic University administrators hosted two listening sessions on April 30 to seek out qualities faculty and staff hope to find in the search for the new permanent provost to oversee academic affairs at the university. According to the FAU website, the provost leads the Office of the Provost, which “provides leadership to achieve excellence...
- Against all odds: FAU student Damian Richter’s journey with autismAfter being diagnosed with mild to moderate autism spectrum disorder a month before his third birthday, Florida Atlantic University student Damian Richter is a living testimony to others that their disability does not define them. Autism spectrum disorder is a condition that affects how people communicate, interact with others and view the world. One in...
- FAU tree study hub: Experts discuss tree preservation and health benefitsThe “Tree of Life” is a classic study hotspot on the Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton campus. This tropical Ficus tree has a long history, with names carved into its pale brown bark and aerial roots stretching down from its branches in hopes of anchoring in the soil. For college students, this outdoor desk in...
- Trump administration reverses student visa revocations, including six FAU studentsIn recent weeks, the Trump administration revoked the visas of six Florida Atlantic University students, prompting concerns about their legal immigration status and potential deportation. However, FAU spokesperson Joshua Glanzer said all visa revocations have since been reversed. “We don’t have any information on why. That lies with the federal government,” Glanzer wrote in an...