Tom Herman, the former head football coach of the University of Texas Longhorns, has found himself in a precarious position at the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Owls. After being fired from his prestigious role at Texas in 2021, Herman has taken on the challenge of reviving the struggling FAU program, but his tenure has been anything but smooth sailing.

A Promising Start Turns Sour

When FAU parted ways with former head coach Willie Taggart following the 2022 season, the university's athletic director, Brian White, expressed high hopes for Herman's arrival. White believed that Herman's "winning pedigree" would translate to success on the field, but two years later, those words have come back to haunt him.Under Taggart's leadership, the Owls compiled a disappointing .455 record, winning just 15 of their 33 games. Herman's tenure, however, has been even more dismal. With a record of just 6 wins and 16 losses, the former Texas coach has struggled to turn the program around, and the latest loss to a subpar American Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent has been viewed as a significant embarrassment by those with connections to the team.

A Transition Year Turns Sour

In his first year with the Owls, Herman's 4-8 record and 3-5 conference record were largely excused as a necessary transition period for a new coach trying to mold his team and adapt to a new conference. However, in a weaker AAC in 2024, the Owls have now found themselves winless in conference play, staring down the prospect of their worst season since 2016.The loss to Temple, a team that is widely considered to be inferior to the Owls, has been particularly damaging to Herman's reputation. Losing to a team of this caliber is seen as a significant setback, and it has only added to the growing pressure on the former Texas coach.

A Downward Spiral

As the Owls continue to struggle, the temperature on Herman's college football hot seat has only continued to rise. The team's dismal performance, coupled with the embarrassing loss to Temple, has led many to question whether Herman is the right person to lead the program forward.The fact that FAU has become the "worst owls in the country," even worse than the struggling Rice Owls, is a particularly damning indictment of Herman's leadership. The team's inability to compete at a high level, even in a weaker conference, has only further eroded the confidence of the university's administration and fan base.

A Bleak Future Ahead

With his reputation in tatters and the Owls' performance continuing to deteriorate, it is unclear whether Tom Herman will be able to salvage his coaching career. His next step is likely not a head coaching job, as the damage done to his reputation may make it difficult for him to secure another high-profile position.Instead, Herman may have to settle for a role as an offensive coordinator, where he can work to rebuild his reputation and demonstrate his ability to develop and lead a successful program. However, even this path forward may be a long and arduous one, as the stain of his failed tenure at FAU may linger for years to come.As the Owls' season continues to spiral, the once-promising future of Tom Herman's coaching career hangs in the balance. The university's administration and fan base will be closely watching to see if he can turn things around, but the odds of a successful turnaround appear to be increasingly slim.