Houston’s 2024 football season was a bumpy ride, crawling to a 4–8 finish while averaging a brutal 14 points per game—Diabolical. Willie Fritz had a tough time finding his footing in Year 1. But now? The year 2 head coach is stirring the pot with big plans and even bigger dreams. At the Texas High School Coaches Association convention in July 2025, Fritz dropped a bombshell: a 6’6”, 250-pound game-changer who’s got Cougar fans suddenly buying into the Willie Fritz supremacy. Oh—and did we mention there’s a shiny $160 million facility on the way?

The Cougars’ 2024 season was like trying to drive a beat-up pickup through a Big 12 storm. After Dana Holgorsen got the boot, Willie Fritz stepped in, bringing his winning vibe from Tulane. But the transition was rough—Houston finished the season with just 3 conference wins. The offense was a straight-up struggle, ranking dead last in the Big 12 and 126th in FBS total yards. Quarterback play was shaky, and the offensive line couldn’t block a paper bag in pass protection. Still, Fritz’s squad showed grit, keeping games tight against tougher conference foes.

Enter Tanner Koziol, the 6’6”, 250-pound tight end who’s got Fritz grinning ear to ear. At the Texas High School Coaches Association on July 25, Fritz didn’t hold back when asked about how he did snatch Koziol from Luke Fickell‘s Wisconsin. “We were looking for a tight end. We brought him in after the first portal, and it came down to us and another school,” he said. “He got back in the portal and contacted us. We were very fortunate to get him. I think he’s going to be an outstanding player for us in the Big 12.” Koziol’s no ordinary pickup—he’s a certified stud who racked up 94 catches, 839 yards, and 8 touchdowns at Ball State in 2024. That’s the kind of production that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep.

Koziol’s path to Houston was a wild one. After balling out at Ball State, he committed to Wisconsin in January 2025, but something didn’t click—maybe the scheme, maybe the vibe. So, he hit the portal again and landed with the Cougars, reuniting with offensive coordinator Slade Nagle, who coached him in high school. Nagle’s tight end-friendly system is tailor-made for Koziol’s massive frame and silky route-running. With an 87.9 PFF grade and 22 contested catches—the most among FBS tight ends in 2024—Koziol’s a walking mismatch. And his reach? Crazy. The man’s out there stretching his arm like he’s Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four, with impressive catches in traffic like it was nothing. His standout games, like nine catches for 112 yards against Central Michigan, show he’s ready to dominate.

Houston’s passing game last year was, frankly, a mess. Top wideout Stephon Johnson led with just 32 catches for 402 yards and 2 touchdowns. Joseph Manjack IV added 22 grabs for 351 yards, while Mekhi Mews managed 29 for 253 despite an ankle injury. The tight end room was really quiet, with senior Jayden York scraping together 5 catches for 31 yards. The whole WR/TE group mustered 182 receptions for 1,832 yards and 9 touchdowns—barely 15 catches and 152.7 yards per game. No one averaged over 3 grabs a game, and big plays were rarer than a Houston snowstorm.

Koziol changes everything. At 6’7” and 250 pounds, he’s a nightmare for defenses, whether lined up in-line, out wide, or as an H-back. Nagle’s playbook, with its play-action and seam routes, is built to exploit Koziol’s skills. He’s a red-zone weapon and a third-down chain-mover, giving Houston’s young quarterbacks—like former 5-star Conner Weigman—a reliable target. Fritz is banking on Koziol being a top-three pass-catcher and an All-Big 12 contender. If he stays healthy, he could be the spark that ignites a Cougars offense desperate for a pulse.

But Fritz isn’t just hyped about his new tight end. He’s got another reason to be pumped—a massive $160 million facility that’s about to change the game for Houston.

Willie Fritz is all excited about their $160 million facility: Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center

During that same THSCA sit-down, Fritz got cheeky when asked about the Cougars’ big move. “We’re moving in a week from Friday, but we have to get out of there, and they won’t let us stay,” he quipped, dripping with sarcasm. The Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center, a $130 million project funded by private donations, is set to open in late summer 2025. Spanning 125,000 to 130,000 square feet next to Space City Financial Stadium, it’s a beast of a facility designed to elevate Houston’s program to elite status.

This isn’t just a fancy locker room. The center boasts cutting-edge amenities: advanced weight rooms, academic suites, meeting spaces, and coaches’ offices. Add in 14 luxury suites, a 450-seat club level, and a 300-seat roof terrace overlooking the field, and you’ve got a recruiting magnet. A $10 million, 7,200 square-foot video board in the west end zone seals the deal, pushing the project’s total impact to the $140–$160 million range. Fritz called it potentially the best facility in the Big 12, and he’s not wrong—it’s a game-changer for luring top talent.

The timing couldn’t be better. Houston’s struggled to keep pace in the Big 12, and this facility screams ‘we’re serious’. Fritz, who’s won everywhere from junior college to Tulane, knows culture and facilities drive success. The center will give players like Koziol and Weigman a pro-level environment to grow, while recruits visiting from Texas high schools—where football is practically religion—will be wowed. It’s a statement that Houston’s ready to compete with the big dogs, not just survive.

Still, the facility’s impact depends on what happens on the field. With Koziol anchoring the passing game and Fritz’s culture taking root, the Cougars have a shot to flip their offensive woes. The 2025 season, with its brutal Big 12 slate, will test whether this $160 million bet and Fritz’s 250-pound stud can turn Houston into a contender.