Report: TCU targeting Dana Holgorsen for consulting role with Horned Frogs

The TCU Horned Frogs are reportedly looking to add some more experience to their staff ahead of the season, with Matt Zenitz reporting Monday that former Houston and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen is being targeted by TCU for a consultant role.

Holgorsen was fired from his head coaching job with the Cougars on November 26 following the 2023 season. The program’s first year in the Big 12 and his fifth season with the team following a 4-8 finish and a 31–28 overall record as Houston’s head coach.

Prior to that, he spent eight seasons as West Virginia’s head coach, leading the team to bowl games in all but one year with the Mountaineers along with a conference title in his first season at the helm in 2011. A 10-3 finish that was one of two double-digit win seasons for Holgorsen during his tenure in Morgantown.

Holgorsen and TCU head coach Sonny Dykes would be reunited after the two were a part of Mike Leach‘s Texas Tech staff in the early 2000s. Where the two both coached wide receivers from 2000 to 2004 before serving as co-offensive coordinators for the Red Raiders.

Dykes has been targeted and acquired several former head coaches as additions to his staff this offseason. Hiring former Boise State head coach Andy Avalos as his defensive coordinator and former Nevada head man Ken Wilson as TCU’s linebackers coach after the team allowed 27.8 points per game last season (the most allowed since 2016).

Holgorsen would be consulting the Horned Frogs offensively and it’d serve as his first non-coaching role on a staff of his career.

Sonny Dykes reveals how TCU’s defense will look different under Andy Avalos

Head coach Sonny Dykes and the TCU Horned Frogs will look to return to the success of his first season with the program this year, dropping to a 5-7 finish last season after making it all the way to the 2023 National Championship in a 13-win season.

An improved defense can definitely bring the Horned Frogs back to prominence, which newly hired defensive coordinator Andy Avalos will look to do this upcoming season. And at Big 12 Media Days, Dykes spoke about how TCU’s defense will look different this season with a new scheme and play caller.

“Obviously going from a three-down to a four-down is gonna be the biggest thing,” Dykes said. “What I like is it allows us to get a little bit more athletes on the field. Those two defensive end positions can be hybrids depending on who you’re playing, and then we have a lot of guys that are versatile in what they bring to the table and have really good skill sets and can rush the passer.”