Major Applewhite Fired from Houston

Yesterday the University of Houston fired head football coach Major Applewhite after two seasons at the helm of the Cougars football program.  Here is a look at the Houston Cougars since 2008; under four different head coaches - Sumlin; Levin; Herman and Applewhite.  As you will notice, Houston has had some remarkably productive seasons, and some not so remarkably productive seasons.  Houston has high expectations, and limited ability to retain coaches after those remarkable seasons.

Below is the Houston Cougars production rank (total, offense, defense, and the average and worst) since 2008 using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com, as well as lines for head coaching firing/retiring.  More details about the program under Applewhite (including a link to his contract) is provided below.

Major Applewhite [2017-2018]

2017
The Cougars finished the regular season again at (7-4), due to the first game of the season against UTSA being cancelled because of Hurricane Harvey; and were defeated by #23 ranked Fresno State by a score of (27-33) to finish (7-5) overall.  Houston played against an “average” strength of schedule, meaning that the Cougars strength of schedule was plus or minus one standard deviation of the "leageue" strength of schedule.  Houston's best regular season victory against #25 ranked South Florida by a score of (28-24) and their worst loss was to #110 ranked Tulsa (17-45).  The Cougars' finished the season as the #57 ranked team overall, with the #67 ranked offense and the #48 ranked defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

2018
The Cougars entered their bowl game at (8-4); and were clobbered by currently ranked #32 Army Black Knights by a score of (14-70) to finish the reason at (8-5) while playing against an “easier” strength of schedule, meaning that Houston's strength of schedule was between one and two standard deviations higher than the "league" strength of schedule.  During the regular season Houston Cougars best game was their victory against currently ranked #78 South Florida by a score of (57-36) and their worst loss was to currently ranked #88 SMU by a score of (31-45).  The Cougars' end of regular season production rankings are:  #42 team overall, with the #4 offense and the #113 defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

2018 NCAA FBS Head Coaching Changes
Mike Jinks at Bowling Green
DJ Durkin at Maryland
Bobby Petrino and Louisville
Mike MacIntyre and Colorado
Everett Withers and Texas State
Brad Lambert and Charlotte 
Mark Whipple and Massachusetts
John Bonamego and Central Michigan
David Beaty and Kansas
Larry Fedora and North Carolina
Kliff Kingsbury and Texas Tech
Mike Sanford and Western Kentucky
Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech
Scottie Montgomery and East Carolina
Bill Snyder and Kansas State
Terry Bowden and Akron
Turner Gill and Liberty
Urban Meyer and Ohio State
Mark Richt and Miami (FL)