University of Houston Athletics
Briles Adds Former Teammate Spradlin To Staff
12/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 17, 2002
Art Briles, the new head football coach at the University of Houston, today announced the hiring of Mike Spradlin, a former teammate of Briles at UH, as the Cougars' new assistant coach for tight ends and slot receivers.
Spradlin becomes the eighth member of Briles staff and the fourth ex-Cougar to return to the UH football program.
"Mike is not only a good man, but he is an even better coach," added Briles. "He has been quite successful in all of his coaching stops, and I've always been impressed with his coaching style. He is another plus for this coaching staff."
Spradlin arrives at his alma mater fresh off a four-year stint at Round Rock Westwood High School, where he turned the WHS program around during his tenure. Taking over a team that had been to the playoffs only four times in its history, Spradlin guided Westwood to a district championship this past year and only its fifth trip to the postseason. He posted a four-year mark of 22-19.
A 1977 graduate of the University of Houston with a bachelor's degree in health, physical education and history, Spradlin played offensive line for legendary UH head coach Bill Yeoman from 1973-76. Spradlin was a member of the 1976 Cougar squad that captured the Southwest Conference championship and defeated Maryland, 30-21, in the Cotton Bowl.
After graduating from UH, Spradlin went straight into the coaching profession, taking the offensive line coaching position at Brazosport High School from 1978-79. From there, Spradlin moved to Abilene Cooper High School, where he coached the offensive line for two seasons (1980-81) before assuming the offensive coordinator role in 1982.
For three seasons after his stint at Cooper, Spradlin was the offensive coordinator at Irving McArthur High School. In 1986 Spradlin left the high school coaching profession to enter private business in the oil industry in West Texas, a job he held until the coaching itch returned in 1996. It was that season that Spradlin took over the head coach/athletic director job at Midland Christian High School, guiding the prepsters to a 9-3 record in their first season.
Spradlin also had a successful one-year stop at Navasota High School in 1998, as he led the Rattlers into the 4A playoffs that year.
As productive as his high school career has been, Spradlin sees even better times on the horizon with his return to the University of Houston.
"I'm really excited about this," said Spradlin. "First of all, Art is an ex-teammate who I've been close to for a long time. I cannot think of a better reason to return to Houston that the opportunity to coach with him.
"Second, I cannot pass up an opportunity to come back to a place where I started my career as both a player and a coach. I have visions of returning this program to national prominence where it belongs."
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