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Sports

UH's coaching staff adds two new faces for 2006 season

Chris Thurmond and Tony Fitzpatrick to help defense, special teams

COUGAR SPORTS SERVICES

The Cougars have announced the hiring of two coaches to help head coach Art Briles' defense and special teams. Chris Thurmond will become the cornerbacks' coach while Tony Fitzpatrick will help with the defensive line and coach the special teams.

Thurmond comes from Texas A&M after coaching their cornerbacks for the past three seasons. Thurmond has been coaching for the past 30 years and helped lead the Aggies to an appearance in the 2005 Cotton Bowl. 

Thurmond spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons coaching cornerbacks at the University of Alabama. In 2001, on its way to capturing the South Eastern Conference title, the Crimson Tide led the SEC in defense and finished third in the nation.

The rest of his coaching stints include two stops at Texas Christian University (1995, 1998-2000), two stops at Tulsa (1983-91, 1994), two seasons at Oklahoma (1996-97) and two at East Carolina (1992-93). 

"Chris is an outstanding addition to our staff," Briles said in a press release. "He has worlds of experience, knowledge and expertise in college football. He has been coaching for a long time at all different levels, has been at a lot of different places and done a great job. We feel fortunate to get him at this stage of our program."

Fitzpatrick returns to Houston to join Briles after spending the last three seasons as a member of the Houston/ISP Sports Radio Network working as the color analyst for Cougar football games. Previously, Fitzpatrick spent 10 years coaching the defensive line for Houston.

Fitzpatrick started his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1988 and became a full-time coach with Houston in 1990.

"Tony's an energetic, can-do person that is going to be a great positive to our program and with our players," Briles said in a press release. "I'm expecting him to come in and make a difference in our special teams and assisting with our defensive line, so he is a great addition that is familiar with our program and this university."

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