Houston Set to Hire Auburn DB Coach Zac Etheridge
Houston is expected to poach one of the top recruiters from a prominent SEC program as the Cougars are set to bring Auburn defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge on staff, according to a report from 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
“Houston is expected to hire Auburn defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge, sources tell @247sports,” Zenitz said on Twitter. “The former Auburn star, who was a finalist for the Louisiana-Monroe head coaching job, coached three players this year who earned Senior Bowl invites and other Auburn standouts like 2022 second-round pick Roger McCreary and current star Tigers DB Keionte Scott.”
Willie Fritz is starting to put together an impressive staff at Houston as he begins to rebuild the UH football program that just entered the Big 12. Last month, Fritz added Kevin Barbay, the offensive play-caller at Mississippi State before they hired Jeff Lebby, as his offensive coordinator.
Etheridge has coached the Tigers’ secondary since 2021 and is regarded as one of the best recruiters on the AU staff. The Cougars’ hire of Etheridge comes on the heels of Auburn hiring Colorado defensive coordinator and former Alabama defensive backs coach Charles Kelly.
Houston is coming off a 4-8 campaign under Dana Holgorsen, leading to him being fired after five seasons at the helm. Meanwhile, Fritz is coming off an eight-year tenure at Tulane in which he led them to five bowl appearances and a 54-47 overall record. In his final two years, Fritz was a combined 23-4 and led Tulane to a 46-45 win over USC in the Cotton Bowl, the Green Wave’s first New Year’s Six bowl win since the 1935 Sugar Bowl.
Fritz, Etheridge, and the Cougars will kick off their 2024 schedule with a home tilt against UNLV on Saturday, August 31.
