University of Texas Athletics

Meet Charlie Strong

Year-by-year coaching record

A two-time conference coach of the year and the architect of a revitalized University of Louisville program that posted at least 11 wins in each of his final two seasons, Charlie Strong is in his third year as the Texas head football coach.

Strong, the 29th head coach in UT history, spent the previous four seasons as Louisville head coach, re-energizing a program that was coming off back-to-back losing seasons (5-7 in 2008, 4-8 in 2009) and a 15-21 record in the three years prior to his arrival. He amassed a 37-15 record, a pair of Big East Conference Championships (2011, 2012) and was named Big East Coach of the Year in both 2010 and 2012. He also led UofL to four straight bowl game appearances (3-1 record), including a victory over No. 4 Florida in the 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl. Strong is the only coach in Louisville history to win three bowl games and prior to his arrival the Cards had won just six bowl games in the program’s 100-year history.

At Texas, Strong is continuing the process of building the Longhorns. With back-to-back Top 10 recruiting classes and a 2015 true freshman class that featured three freshman All-Americans, three other players who earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors, and 10 players who started a game, a young and talented nucleus has the Horns in position to return to prominence. 

In addition to recruiting prowess, Strong has proven to be an exceptional developer of talent. Following the 2015 season, two of Strong's former players were drafted into the NFL, while eight others signed undrafted free agent contracts. Former Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins was selected 12th overall by the New Orleans Saints, while Texas DT Hassan Ridgeway was picked in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts. 

Strong’s Longhorns bring back 14 starters from a 2015 team that posted upsets of playoff participant No. 4 Oklahoma, and No. 13 Baylor last season. The team featured a dynamic running game that ranked 17th in the nation (224.8 ypg), a pressure defense that was fifth in the country in sacks per game (3.08), and a turnover margin that was tied for ninth best nationally (+11). In all, 12 players finished the season with All-Big 12 honors.

During 2014, Strong rallied the Longhorns from a 3-5 record to reach a bowl game despite the loss of two key starters on offense (QB David Ash, C Dominic Espinosa) and one on defense (DT Desmond Jackson) for nearly the entire season. 

Texas ended the season with one of the better defenses in the nation, ranking 25th in the FBS in total yards allowed (348.5 per game), No. 11 in passing defense (184.2 ypg), No. 7 in yards allowed per play (4.68), 15th in passing efficiency defense (110.04 rating), tied for 11th in sacks (3.1 pg) and 31st in points allowed (23.8 pg).

A number of players earned individual honors in Strong’s first season. Defensive tackle Malcom Brown was a finalist for both the Nagurski and Outland trophies, as well as becoming the 47th consensus All-American in school history. Brown and linebacker Jordan Hicks earned All-America honors. They were also among 10 players to secure All-Big 12 accolades.

Five players - Brown (first round to New England), Hicks (third round to Philadelphia), safety Mykkele Thompson (fifth round to NY Giants), cornerback Quandre Diggs (sixth round to Detroit) and tight end Geoff Swaim (seventh round to Dallas) - were selected in the 2015 NFL Draft. In addition, deep snapper Nate Boyer (Seattle), running back Malcolm Brown (St. Louis), wide receiver John Harris (Philadelphia), defensive end Cedric Reed (Buffalo) and wide receiver Jaxon Shipley (Arizona) signed as free agents after the draft and nine of Strong’s former players at Louisville were chosen. 

Malcom Brown became the fifth player under Strong to be drafted in the first round during his first two seasons at Texas. Louisville’s DeVante Parker went in the first round (14th overall) to Miami in 2015. Last season, Louisville had three first round picks in safety Calvin Pryor (18th overall to New York Jets), defensive end Marcus Smith (26th overall to Philadelphia) and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (32nd overall to Minnesota). Since 1995, Strong has coached 15 players selected in the first round and had 37 taken in the first four rounds.

During Strong’s final two years, Louisville was the nation’s fourth-winningest program, posting a 23-3 record (88.5 percent) and registering bowl victories in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. The Cardinals’ 11-plus win seasons in 2012 and 2013 were the fourth and fifth in school history and the first back to back. Louisville finished among the nation’s top 15 for a school-record second straight year. The Cardinals ended 2013 among the top 25 in both polls for just the ninth time in school history.

Featuring an explosive offense and stingy defense in 2013, the Cardinals ranked 15th in both the USA Today Coaches and Associated Press polls (also No. 18 in final BCS Standings) after compiling a 12-1 record, including a 7-1 mark in the American Athletic Conference, and capped the year with a 36-9 win over Miami (Fla.) in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Strong’s squad racked up 554 total yards while holding the Hurricanes to just 174. It marked just the second 12-win season in school history (2006). 

In 2013, the Cardinals led the nation in nine team categories: total defense (251.5 yards per game), rushing defense (80.7 ypg), third-down conversion defense (26.7 percent), sacks (3.31 per game), fewest passes intercepted (4), fewest turnovers lost (10), fewest first downs allowed (183), completion percentage (70.8) and punt-return defense (1.15 yards per return). UofL also ranked second in scoring defense (12.2 points per game), third-down conversions (56.0%), time of possession (33:49) and turnover margin (+1.3 pg), while placing in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed per play (third – 4.20), passing efficiency defense (fourth – 99.2 rating), passing yards allowed (fifth – 170.8 pg), tackles for loss (sixth – 7.8 pg), red-zone defense (fifth – 68.4%) and passing efficiency (third – 171.9 rating). Additionally, Louisville was one of only five schools to rank among the top 28 in the FBS in both total offense and defense, and one of just seven to rank among the top 25 in both scoring offense and defense. The Cards ranked 25th in scoring offense (35.2 ppg) and 28th in total offense (460.8 ypg).

Bridgewater, then a junior, was a finalist for the 2013 Manning Award and a semifinalist for both the Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien Award. He threw for 3,970 yards and a school-record 31 TDs with only four interceptions and led the nation with a 71.0 completion percentage. On the defensive side of the ball, Smith was a Hendricks Award finalist and earned second-team All-America honors while leading the nation in sacks (1.1 per game/14). The Cardinals had 11 players earn All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2013. 

In 2012, Louisville posted an 11-2 record, claimed a Big East Championship and finished the year ranked 13th in the BCS Standings, USA Today Coaches Poll and AP Poll. The Cards capped the year with a 33-23 upset win over the fourth-ranked Gators in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Bridgewater was named Big East Player of the Year, ranked eighth in the nation in passing efficiency and helped the Cardinals finish No. 3 in the FBS in red-zone efficiency (93.0%), tied for sixth in turnovers lost (13), eighth in third-down conversions (49.7%) and 24th in passing offense (296.1 ypg). Defensively they ranked 16th in passing yards allowed (154.2 ypg), tied for 22nd in first downs yielded (18.2 pg) and 23rd in total yards allowed (340.3 ypg).

In Strong’s first two seasons (2010-11), Louisville recorded identical 7-6 records, including appearances in the 2010 Beef `O’ Brady’s Bowl and the 2011 Belk Bowl. After Louisville won a combined two league games in the two seasons prior to his arrival, Strong led the Cardinals to three Big East victories in 2010, and five in 2011. UofL won five of its last six games, including a win over nationally-ranked West Virginia to win a share of the Big East title and qualify for the Belk Bowl. Strong guided Bridgewater to Big East Rookie of the Year honors and freshman All-America accolades, while guard Jake Smith became the first Cardinal player to be named a FWAA Freshman All-American.

Louisville defeated Southern Mississippi 31-28 in the 2010 Beef `O’ Brady’s Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla., after falling behind 14-0. The game capped one of the best turnarounds in the FBS that season as the Cards increased their win total by three games from 2009. The Cardinals also improved in nearly every major statistical category from 2009 to 2010, including jumping from 65th to 14th in total defense, 65th to 18th in scoring defense, 42nd to ninth in passing defense, 58th to sixth in sacks, 84th to 52nd in rushing offense, 89th to 34th in rushing offense, 111th to tied for 63th in scoring offense, 95th to 48th in passing efficiency, tied for 111th to 26th in sacks allowed and 77th to 44th in turnover margin. 

Prior to Louisville, the veteran of 33 years in collegiate coaching built an impressive resume as an assistant coach, including 11 seasons as a defensive coordinator in the SEC and four years as an assistant coach at Notre Dame. All totaled, Strong spent 15 seasons as an assistant at Florida during four stints, including seven years as the defensive coordinator, the last five of which were under current Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer. Strong was also on two of Lou Holtz’s staffs, spending the first two years of his Fighting Irish tenure under the Hall of Fame coach, as well as four more as defensive coordinator at South Carolina. Strong was a finalist for the Broyles Award (nation’s top assistant coach) three times. 

Strong spent seven seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida under Meyer from 2005-09 and Ron Zook from 2003-04 where he helped the Gators win a pair of national titles – 2008 over Oklahoma and 2006 over Ohio State. 

In that stretch, Strong coached 13 All-Americans, a National Defensive Player of the Year, a Jack Tatum Award winner, two SEC Defensive Freshmen of the Year, two Thorpe Award finalists, two Nagurski Trophy finalists and the 2008 Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year. He also developed seven first-round NFL Draft picks and 18 players that were selected in the third round or higher.

In 2009, Strong guided one of the nation’s top defensive units, finishing in the top six in four different statistical categories. UF was fourth in the nation in scoring defense (12.4 ppg), second in passing defense (152.8 ypg), fourth in total defense (252.6 ypg) and sixth in passing efficiency defense (96.1 rating) as the Gators went 13-1, including a trip to the SEC Championship game for the third time in Strong’s tenure. Florida finished the season with a 51-24 win over Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl and a No. 3 ranking in both polls. He was named a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach, for the second straight year and is only the second three-time finalist in the history of the award. In Strong’s position group, LB Brandon Spikes earned consensus first-team All-America honors and earned the second of his two Butkus Award finalist nods and was a finalist for the Bednarik Award, while CB Joe Haden also earned unanimous first-team All-America honors and was a Thorpe Award finalist.

In 2008, Strong’s defense ranked in the top 20 nationally in 10 statistical categories, including a school-record tying 26 interceptions that also tied for the most in the country that season. UF’s scoring defense showed the third-largest improvement from 2007 to 2008, finishing fourth in the nation by yielding only 12.9 points per game. The defense also ranked ninth in total defense (285.3 ypg), and third in pass efficiency defense (96.76 rating). Spikes preceded his consensus All-America honors from the previous year with unanimous honors and being named a finalist of the Lombardi and Butkus Awards under Strong. In the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship Game versus Oklahoma, which entered the contest scoring a nation’s best 54.0 ppg, the UF defense held Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford and the Sooners to just 14 points and 363 total yards in a 24-14 win. The Gators ended the year with a 13-1 record and earned their second national title in three years. That came on the heels of a nine-win season in 2007 in which Florida finished No. 13 in the AP poll and No. 16 in the coaches poll with an appearance in the Capital One Bowl.

Under Strong’s watch in the 2006 season, Florida set a BCS record for fewest yards allowed in the national title game, holding Ohio State to only 82 total yards. He guided a Gator defense that limited opponents to a SEC-best 72.5 rushing yards per game for the season, ranking fifth nationally, while rating sixth in the nation in total defense (255.4 ypg), sixth in scoring defense (13.5 ppg) and fourth in passing efficiency defense (98.31 rating). Safety Reggie Nelson earned first-team consensus All-America honors and was a Thorpe Award and Nagurski Trophy finalist, while the AP named CB Ryan Smith second-team All-America and LB Brandon Siler was on its third team.

The 2005 season saw Florida once again win nine games with the defense ranking in the top 10 in both total yards allowed (ninth/299.8 ypg) and rushing (10th/94.9 ypg). The Gators also ranked 18th in scoring defense at 18.8 ppg. UF defeated Iowa, 31-24, in the Outback Bowl and finished the season ranked 12th in the AP poll and 16th in the coaches poll.

In Strong’s first two seasons (2003-04) the Gators finished 8-5 and 7-5, respectively. UF finished ranked in both seasons coming in at No. 24/25 in 2003 and No. 25 in the coaches poll in 2004. Strong made his first appearance as a head coach in the 2004 Peach Bowl in place of Zook. In 2003, CB Keiwan Ratliff was a consensus first-team All-American and a finalist for the Thorpe Award, while being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, while in 2004, Siler was the SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year.

From the 2003-09, Strong’s defensive units at Florida allowed an average of 17.6 points per game, which ranked ninth in the country over that span. His stint as defensive coordinator marked his fourth tenure at Florida, including a stretch from 1991-94 in which he coached defensive ends (1991-93) and defensive tackles (1994) after coaching outside linebackers in 1988-89, and serving as a graduate assistant in 1983-84. He served as Florida’s assistant head coach from 2005-07 and was the associate head coach in 2008-09. 

Before returning to Florida for the fourth time, Strong received his first defensive coordinator assignment at the University of South Carolina under Holtz from 1999-2002. There, he earned his first finalist nod for the Broyles Award after he helped guide the Gamecocks to a top 20 national ranking in 2000, which he did twice while at South Carolina, peaking with a No. 13 final ranking in both polls in 2001. The 2000 squad ranked sixth in the country in scoring defense after yielding just 15.8 points per game, while the 2001 team finished 12th at 18.4 points per game. The 1999 team ranked 20th in the nation in total defense, allowing 307.7 ypg. The 2000 and 2001 seasons saw some of the highest achievements in South Carolina history to that point, ending in back-to-back Outback Bowl wins over Ohio State.

Outside of his time at Louisville, Florida, and South Carolina, Strong’s career stops have included one season (1985) at Texas A&M as a graduate assistant before moving on to Southern Illinois as wide receivers coach from 1986-87, one season (1990) at Mississippi as wide receivers coach and four seasons (1995-98) as the defensive line coach at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish registered a single-season school record 41.5 sacks in 1997. 

A native of Batesville, Ark., Strong was a three-year letterwinner (1979-81) and three-time all-conference safety at Central Arkansas, which reached the NAIA Playoffs each of his final two seasons. He was also a two time all-conference performer in track and field and graduated in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in education. Strong was inducted into the Central Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. He and his wife, Vicki, have a son, Tory, and two daughters, Hailee and Hope.