Tom Herman to Houston: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Ohio State offensive coordinator  Tom Herman has been a popular head-coaching candidate since the end of the regular season. He has now been hired as the head coach of the Houston Cougars.

Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports broke the news:

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

Brett McMurphy of ESPN confirmed Feldman's report, and reported that the coach would remain with the Buckeyes through the College football playoffs: 

McMurphy later provided Herman's salary at Houston:

Houston would later confirm that salary in a release in which Herman spoke about the decision to come to the school:

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'This is a tremendous opportunity for my family and I to come back to Houston and lead one of the top programs in the country,' said Herman who has spent 11 seasons of his collegiate coaching career in the state of Texas. 'I am looking forward to working with one of the top athletic directors in the country as well as Chancellor Khator in a partnership that will make the city of Houston and the great state of Texas proud.'

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Herman, 39, was hired in December of 2011 by Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and has been a big part of the team’s success since. He also earned the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the nation earlier this month.

This will be Herman’s first shot at being a head coach at the collegiate level. He is taking over for the fired Tony Levine, who went 21-17 over his three years as coach. The Houston program is coming off a 7-5 season and will play Pittsburgh in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

Houston reportedly interviewed former Florida head coach Will Muschamp in the process, but Herman is an intriguing candidate with plenty of upside. He has helped shape Ohio State's offense into a top-tier unit and has direct experience working with quarterbacks, so it will be interesting to see what he can do with the Cougars.

*Stats via ESPN.com.