Akers Is Fired After Losing Season : 86-31-2 Mark in 10 Years Not Enough to Save Job at Texas

Fred Akers, who won almost 75% of his games in 10 years with the University of Texas, Saturday became the first coach in the 93-year history of the school’s football program to be dismissed.

Akers posted the third-best won-lost record in the history of the Southwest Conference, but his final team had the Longhorns’ first losing season in 30 years.

Akers did not appear at the news conference at which Texas Athletic Directory DeLoss Dodds announced his dismissal, but he told CBS Sports in an interview broadcast during halftime of the USC-Notre Dame game that he was surprised and disappointed with the decision to fire him.

“This is my 19th year with the University of Texas, and that’s quite an investment for me and my family,” Akers said. “It’s certainly not the end of the world. I don’t control everything that happens to me, but I can control how I react to it. I’ll land on my feet.”

Despite the well-publicized criticism that Akers has drawn from wealthy Texas alumni, he said if given another chance, “I’d do it over again the same way.”

He said he did not know if alumni discontent led to his dismissal.

“I don’t know, and it doesn’t make any difference,” he said. “I’m not going to be the head football coach, and there’s no need in placing the blame. I have a healthy respect for them. I don’t guess I pleased the right people or something.”

Texas officials said that Akers, who has five years left on his $91,000-a-year contract, would be reassigned within the athletic department, but he said he was still interested in coaching elsewhere.

“This was an especially tough decision to make,” said Dodds, who made the announcement at a news conference broadcast throughout Central Texas on Austin’s three network-affiliated television stations.

“In spite of the criticism directed at him, Fred Akers has done some great things for the university during the 10 years he has been head coach and has handled himself in a class way this year.

“However, sometimes it simply becomes necessary to make such a change and to inject new energy and new leadership at the top of an organization such as our football program.”

Akers was at his ranch outside Austin when the announcement was made. A school spokeswoman said the coach planned a news conference next week to discuss his dismissal.

A search will begin immediately for what has been one of the most high-profile football coaching jobs in the nation. Such names as Miami’s Jimmy Johnson, Arizona’s Larry Smith, Texas Tech’s David McWilliams (a former Texas assistant) and Arizona State’s John Cooper are among those being mentioned in early speculation.

The decision to fire Akers was officially rendered at a Saturday meeting of the school’s nine-member athletics council but had been expected for several months.

Akers succeeded Texas coaching legend Darrell Royal in 1977 and posted a record of 86-31-2 in his 10 seasons for a winning percentage of 73.1. Only Royal and another former Texas coach, Dana X. Bible, had better records in the SWC.

Akers, however, had a 2-7 bowl mark and had won just two league titles and one Cotton Bowl game in 10 years. Thursday night, his team fell to rival Texas A&M; for the third straight time. The Longhorns’ 5-6 record was their first losing campaign since 1956.