There has been a very distinct, simple pattern that’s followed new University of Houston head coach Willie Fritz throughout his career.
Fritz shows up somewhere. The team starts winning.
Get the picture?
Fritz has the next — and biggest — reclamation project of his career on tap with the Cougars following the team’s 4-8 record in its first season in the Big 12 in 2023 that led to the firing of head coach Dana Holgersen and the hiring of Fritz.
When it comes to recruiting, Fritz is already earning praise for what he’s putting together for Houston’s 2025 recruiting class.
“The former Tulane coach has Texas ties, a track record of doing more with less and a history of developing lower-ranked prospects into stars,” wrote ESPN’s Eli Lederman. “Houston offers updated facilities, a Power 4 conference alignment and — never to be overlooked — a home within one of the most concentrated areas of high school football talent in the nation.”
Fritz has a commitment from what should be his quarterback of the future in Ridge Point (Texas) High’s Austin Carlisle, who threw for 3,115 yards and 35 touchdowns while rushing for 556 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. Carlisle is the No. 6 dual-threat quarterback in the country in his class.
⚠️Junior Year Highlights⚠️
— 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐞 (@AustinCarlisle_) November 21, 2023
-3700 all purpose yards
- 3100 passing yards (70% comp)
- 600 rushing
- 46 touchdowns
Full film- https://t.co/cQnRyPr37a pic.twitter.com/lC9LXsAu6u
Houston also has commitments from two more Texas high school football stars in defensive tackle Travis Buhake and athlete Zaylen Cormier, who are both high three-star recruits.
Fritz comes to Houston from Tulane, where he went 23-4 over the last two seasons, including a 12-1 record in 2022 that ended with a win in the Cotton Bowl and the Green Wave ranked No. 9 in the final AP Top 25 rankings.
