Houston has hired Willie Fritz as its head football coach, the school announced Sunday.

The 63-year-old Fritz has been head coach the last eight seasons at Tulane, where he compiled a 54-47 record. The Green Wave have won 23 games the last two seasons, however, including 11 this season.

“No one in the country has been better at leading and developing student-athletes than Willie Fritz,” Houston athletics director Chris Pezman said. “Over his more than three-decades of head coaching experience, he has guided several football programs to historic success.

“We’re excited to welcome Willie, his wife, Susan, and their entire family, to Cougar Nation and look forward to putting our full support behind Coach Fritz as we look to take the next steps in the Big 12 Conference.”

Fritz replaces Dana Holgorsen, who was fired a week ago after five seasons. The Cougars went 4-8 this season, their first in the Big 12.

Fritz grew up in Kansas, but has a long history in the state of Texas. He was head coach at Blinn Junior College from 1993-96 and at Sam Houston State from 2010-13.

“I am truly humbled and honored to join the University of Houston family and to be a part of the strong athletics tradition at UH,” Fritz said. “There is no ceiling for success, with the incredible fan support, excellent facilities, talented young men and a collective desire to compete for championships. We will build a program that all Coogs can be proud of and I cannot wait to see the results.”

Fritz has also been head coach at Central Missouri and Georgia Southern. In 27 seasons as a college head coach, he has won 208 games with five conference championships.

Houston hiring Fritz leaves Duke as the only Power 5 program with a head-coaching opening. In addition to Tulane, New Mexico, UTEP, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, James Madison and Nevada also have vacancies on the Group of 5 level.