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Bringing a wealth of collegiate coaching experience and a penchant for innovative ideas and styles, Kevin Sumlin enters his first season as the head football coach at the University of Houston after seven seasons as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator in the Big 12. Sumlin becomes the 12th head coach in UH history and the first African-American to lead the prestigious Cougar Program. "As I spoke with people around the country about Kevin, he is very highly regarded by his peers, by head coaches, by assistant coaches and by athletic directors," said UH director of athletics Dave Maggard. "He has been in programs that have been very strong, and in programs where success has taken place and continued to succeed. He has a great deal of success in recruiting, and he has been recruiting the Houston area for a number of years during the time he was at Texas A&M and the University of Oklahoma. "He's a man of strong character. He will set expectations for the players, and yet at the same time, the players have enormous respect for him. And it goes both ways. He has respect for the players, and they have respect for him. "I felt the need to have someone that will set high expectations with us (and) will meet the high expectations we have here at the University of Houston. The vision here for us is to reclaim our position in the national picture. In my conversations with Kevin, he feels that's more than possible. His goals will be consistent with those of ours in terms of moving this program up beyond where it is at this current time." "This is a great University and a great city," said Sumlin. "This is a place that has won a conference championship in recent years, and we want to continue down that path and play for a conference championship every season. This is Dave Maggard's vision, and I share the same vision. "I bring both energy and excitement to the program, as well as an aggressive style of offense and defense. It will be a style that the players will want to play and a style that our fans will like to watch. "What excited me (about coming to Houston) was a chance to play for a championship every year." The 43-year-old Sumlin arrives on Cullen Boulevard after spending the past five seasons at the University of Oklahoma, where he served as both the co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach (2006-07) and special teams coordinator/tight ends coach (2003-05). In 2007, the OU receivers recorded 19 touchdowns while Malcolm Kelly and Juaquin Iglesias provided one of the best 1-2 receiving punches in the nation, ranking fifth and sixth in the OU record book for receiving yards in a season. Offensively, the Sooners finished fifth in the nation in scoring offense at 42.3 points per game, while ranking 19th nationally in total offense averaging 448.9 yards per game. The 2006 season saw OU's receivers catch 17 touchdown passes while Kelly reached 1,000 career receiving yards faster than any player in school history. The Sooner offense ranked 19th nationally in scoring offense at 30.3 points per game. Prior to becoming co-offensive coordinator, Sumlin served as the Sooners' special teams coordinator. In 2005, sophomore punter Cody Freeby ranked 27th nationally with a 42.3 yard average, while OU ranked 10th in the country in net punting, averaging 37.8 yards per kick. Before his arrival in Norman, Sumlin spent two seasons at Texas A&M University, where he served as the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Three games into the 2002 campaign, Sumlin was thrust into the offensive coordinator role, and the Aggies averaged 33.0 points per game after posting just 16.0 ppg before he took control. The A&M offense also averaged 419 yards per game after netting an average of 286 yards in the season's first three contests. Sumlin also has stops at his alma mater, Purdue (1998-2001), Minnesota (1993-97) and Wyoming (1991-92). Purdue's 1998 receivers set school records with 377 receptions for 4,208 yards and 43 touchdowns. The Boilermakers' Chris Daniels set a Big Ten record with 121 catches and recorded another Big Ten record with 21 receptions in one game. Sumlin began his career as a graduate assistant at Washington State for Mike Price (1989-90). He also has been an assistant coach under Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), R.C. Slocum (Texas A&M), Joe Tiller (Purdue and Wyoming), Jim Wacker (Minnesota) and Glen Mason (Minnesota). Sumlin has coached in nine bowl games, including all four BCS games. Five came during his time at Oklahoma (2008 Fiesta, 2007 Fiesta, 2005 Holiday, 2005 Orange, 2004 Sugar), one at Texas A&M (2002 GalleryFurniture.com) and three with Purdue (2002 Rose, 2000 Outback, 1998 Alamo). A four-year letterman as a linebacker at Purdue (1983-86), Sumlin still ranks among the top 10 in career tackles for the Boilermakers. He was named to Sports Illustrated's All-America walk-on list as a freshman after leading Purdue with 91 tackles. He was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 1984 and helped the team reach the Peach Bowl. Sumlin also earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors as a senior, ranking No. 5 in the league with 114 tackles. The Indianapolis, Ind., native graduated from Purdue in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in both criminology and criminal justice. Sumlin and his wife Charlene have four children: daughters Courtney and Shelby, and sons Jackson and Joey. THE SUMLIN FILE COACHING HISTORY PLAYING HISTORY |
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