Jan 12, 2007, 23:35 GMT
Tulsa, OK - The University of Tulsa has hired former Rice University head coach Todd Graham to become their head coach, the school announced on Friday.
Graham, a former Tulsa assistant, returns to the Golden Hurricane after leading the Owls to a 7-6 record and a bowl berth in 2006, the school's first in 45 years.
'We're extremely pleased to have Todd Graham return to the University of Tulsa as our football coach,' athletic director Bubba Cunningham said at a press conference. 'There's no question that Todd fits the two main attributes we were looking for in a head coach, the ability to recruit and the right fit for our University. Todd's enthusiasm is infectious and his football knowledge and coaching ability is evident.'
Graham replaces the departed Steve Kragthorpe, who left Tulsa after four seasons at the helm to take over as head coach at Louisville.
The 42-year-old Texas native spent three seasons (2003-2005) as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Kragthorpe. He takes over a program which has won 29 games in the past four seasons and received three bowl invitations in that span.
'I'm very excited for my family and thrilled about this opportunity to be the head football coach at the University of Tulsa,' Graham said. 'To be able to return to a program that you helped to rebuild, and now have the chance to take it to an even higher level is exciting.'
Prior to his time in Tulsa, Graham was an assistant under Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia, also coaching at the NAIA and high-school levels.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Your Talkback on this Story