Tulane has named Willie Fritz its next head coach, making this their best hire since Tommy Bowden in 1997. Tulane has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday at noon ET to officially introduce Fritz. Fritz comes in to rebuild a program that compiled a 15-34 record over the past four seasons. In that same time period Fritz was 37-16 as a head coach.
Fritz had the following to say about joining Tulane: “I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the Tulane football program and be a part of such a prestigious academic institution,” Fritz said. Tulane University athletic director Troy Dannen had the following to say about Fritz: “Willie was our number one target of this coaching search from the day it began. We attracted significant interest from around the country but after meeting with the candidates it was clear Willie was the right fit for our institution and our football program. He has rebuilt three football programs and led each of those programs into national prominence at their respective level. In his 23 years as a head coach, Willie has an established track record of producing quality men, high academic achievements and great competitive success.”
It is obvious that Fritz has the backing of the administration. Once he wins over the boosters he will focus on building relationships with high school coaches in the New Orleans area.
Fritz brings 23 years of head coaching experience to the table. From 1997 to 2009 Fritz led division two Central Missouri to a 97-47 record and one conference championship. In 2010 he moved to Sam Houston State where he racked up 40 wins and just 15 losses in four years. Fritz appeared in two FCS championship games in 2011 and 2012. In 2013 Fritz took over Georgia Southern and won a conference championship in their first year of Sun Belt competition. Fritz is well known for his ability to adapt his offense to his players. In two years as the head coach at Georgia Southern, Fritz's offenses led the nation in rushing yards. In his final year as coach at Sam Houston State his rushing offense ranked 6th.
Tulane recently built an on campus football stadium and updated many of their athletic facilities. With world-class academics to couple the new facilities, and a fantastic location, Tulane is now set to build a program. Look for Tulane to become a force to reckon with in the American Conference within the next three years. Fritz will have the Green Wave rolling.