Texas Longhorns Hire Charlie Strong To Become First Black Head Coach

Times they are a changin’… Five years after Charlie Strong told reporters that his interracial marriage was making it harder for him to get a head coaching job he is leaving his post at Louisville to become the first black head coach at the University of Texas, Austin.

According to Dallas News reports:

Texas made it official Sunday, hiring Strong as the successor to Mack Brown. He will receive a five-year contract worth $5 million per season. An introductory news conference is scheduled for Monday. Strong becomes the first black head coach in a men’s sport at Texas.

“Texas is one of those places that is always on your radar and a program anyone would dream of being a part of because you have a chance to compete on a national level every year,” Strong said in a statement. “It’s special because it has such great history, pride, tradition and passion for football.”

Strong’s job is to make it special again. Texas has been an undistinguished 18-17 in the Big 12 the last four seasons.

Texas athletic director Steve Patterson surveyed an eight-person advisory committee about priorities before the search began. From a starting point of about 30 candidates following Brown’s resignation Dec. 14, the search led to Strong.

“He fit the criteria we had,” Patterson said. “He brings toughness and accountability, the X’s and O’s, and he’s a good person and family man. Plus, he really wanted the job.”

Patterson interviewed Strong for more than four hours Tuesday at Strong’s home in Louisville.

At one point, one of Strong’s daughters asked with a bit of resignation: “Daddy, are you going to move us again?”

Patterson, who had heard similar questions from his family, immediately related.

“We were very impressed with him,” Patterson said. “When you have a process, you go through it all the way and do not short-change the process.”

Patterson said Texas made only one offer — to Strong. He said Alabama coach Nick Saban, long viewed as the ultimate hire by some Texas donors and fans, was never a candidate.

While neither the team nor Strong made any comments about race in their announcement it did not go without notice:

Texas has not always been progressive on race issues. The 1969 team was the last all-white AP national championship squad. Offensive lineman Julius Whittier became the program’s first black letterman the following season.

Former women’s track coach Bev Kearney, who is black, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the school. She alleges that race played a role in her forced resignation.

Former basketball All-American T.J. Ford tweeted: “Congrats to our new football Coach Charlie Strong. FIRST BLACK Head Coach in UT HISTORY.”

Without specifically referring to race, Texas president Bill Powers said, “This is a historic day for The University of Texas and a historic hire for our football team.”

This is definitely a sign of progress for Texas.