Texas A & M Aggies football under Mike Sherman Mike Sherman was the 28th head coach for the Texas A & M Aggies football team , which represents Texas A & M University in NCAA Division I FBS college football . He was the head coach since his appointment in November 2007 until being fired December 1 , 2011 . Sherman replaced Dennis Franchione . Arrival . Hiring . During his stint with the Houston Texans , Sherman was informed by his agent that there would be an NFL head coaching job had he waited another few years . However , when offered the Texas A & M head coaching job , which had been vacated by Dennis Franchione , Sherman did not hesitate to accept it . Sherman stated , " [ I accepted in ] as much time as it takes to say yes . I didn ' t have to think about this . This is where I want to be , where I want to live my life . I raised my kids here when they were young . This is kind - of going full circle . I ' ve been there , done that at other places and I want to be able to do something special here at College Station with Texas A & M . " On November 26 , 2007 , three days after Franchione resigned , Sherman was officially announced as the 28th head coach of the Texas A & M football program . Athletic director Bill Byrne contacted Sherman after the Aggies ' final regular season matchup over Texas on Friday , November 23 , and hired him after the Houston Texans game on Sunday , November 25 . The only coaching candidate interviewed for the job , Sherman signed a seven - year contract worth $ 1 . 8 million annually . The entire $ 12 . 6 million contract is guaranteed . Sherman requested that he would rather not be paid the $ 2 million / year that Franchione was making , insisting that he " would rather take less and go out and hire the best coordinators and coaches " . Former Aggie NFL players Richmond Webb , Hunter Goodwin , and Bucky Richardson , as well as former A & M coaches R . C . Slocum and Jackie Sherrill , stated their approval of Sherman ' s hire . Additionally , the interim president of the university at the time , Dr . Ed Davis , and the Texas A & M Board of Regents , including former A & M coach Gene Stallings , approved as well . Former Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre and Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy have also supported the hire and expected Sherman to do a great job at A & M . Assistant coach appointments . Sherman chose to finish his term with the Houston Texans before working full - time as the Aggies ' head coach . The Texans ended their regular season on December 30 , 2007 . While serving both roles , Sherman contacted A & M ' s verbally committed recruits by telephone , and hired former Nebraska recruiting coordinator Tim Cassidy — who had been the recruiting coordinator at A & M from 1989 – 2004 — to serve as the recruiting coordinator as well as the associate athletic director for football . Once Sherman started his job full - time , he named Seattle Seahawks wide receivers coach Nolan Cromwell to be his offensive coordinator and former Arkansas Razorbacks coach Reggie Herring to be his defensive coordinator . Herring , however , resigned in February 2008 after National Signing Day to become the linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys . Sherman worked with Cromwell under head coach Mike Holmgren at Green Bay . Sherman assigned Cromwell to call the plays , and indicated that he will have veto power when necessary . On January 9 , 2008 , Sherman announced Buddy Wyatt would coach the defensive line . At the time of his hiring , Wyatt had 18 years of collegiate coaching experience , including 3 seasons as a defensive line coach at A & M from 2000 – 02 . Sherman also retained defensive backs coach Van Malone , who coached under Franchione for the 2006 – 07 seasons . Malone was the only member from Franchione ' s staff to be retained . Former Boston College offensive line coach Jim Turner , as well as former NFL running back Randy Jordan , were selected to coach the offensive line and running backs , respectively . On January 28 , 2008 , Sherman named former Packers coach Tom Rossley as the quarterbacks coach . On February 13 , 2008 , Sherman hired former Alabama defensive coordinator Joe Kines to replace Herring . Kines ' defensive squads at Alabama ranked second in the nation in 2004 and 2005 , and 23rd in 2006 . Two days later , former Denver Broncos coach Kirk Doll , another former A & M coach ( from 1988 – 93 ) , was hired to be the tight ends and special teams coach . Seasons . 2008 season . Preseason . Sherman was able to retain most of Franchione ' s recruits for the 2008 season . Sherman emphasized improving the team ' s speed , particularly on defense . He also stated that a run - oriented offense , which former head coach Dennis Franchione emphasized , is antiquated , and improving the speed on offense is crucial in matching the speed of current successful college teams . He made player adjustments to fit his pro - style offensive scheme . In April 2008 , a " Sporting News " writer ranked Sherman 8th among all Big 12 coaches , above first - year Nebraska coach Bo Pelini , Oklahoma State ' s Mike Gundy , Iowa State ' s Gene Chizik , and Kansas State ' s Ron Prince , who ranked 9th , 10th , 11th and 12th , respectively . The same writer ranked Sherman 46th among all the BCS 66 coaches . Upon the completion of the spring practices , players had described Sherman as " no - nonsense and all business " . Sherman held ten 6 : 00 a . m . meetings prior to spring training , and continued to hold meetings at the same time on the days of spring practice . According to Sherman , the meetings featured " 40 minutes of chaos . Drills , drills , drills , running , with coaches on their butts . " Players who were late to the meetings were asked to jog an unspecified distance as a form of punishment . In fact , Sherman stressed that " being on time is a matter of respect " , a lesson he believes that young people should be taught early . He even placed 25 digital clock s throughout the Bright Football Complex — the facility that houses the locker room , player ' s lounge , and coaches ' offices , among others — so that players can be certain they manage their time well . None of the players missed the workouts , except three who had a medical excuse . Regular season . In his first season , Sherman compiled a 4 – 8 record . The season included losses to Arkansas State and historic rival Baylor , as well as a lopsided 49 – 9 loss to Texas . ESPN ' s Mark Schlabach listed him as having the worst first season in 2008 . After the season , Sherman showed confidence about the future seasons . 2009 season . Sherman led the 2009 team to a 6 – 7 record . Highlights of the season included a victory over # 24 Texas Tech . The season , however , included four blowout losses , including the one to Georgia in the Independence Bowl . 2010 season . Following the 2009 season , Sherman hired Tim DeRuyter to defensive coordinator , to replace the retired Joe Kines . He also hired Troy Walters to coach wide receivers , Dat Nguyen to coach inside linebackers , Nick Toth to coach outside linebackers , and Terrell Williams to coach the defensive line . Coaches who left the team include offensive coordinator Nolan Cromwell , special teams coach Kirk Doll , defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt , and safety coach Van Malone . In January 2010 , Sherman convinced All - American Von Miller to bypass the 2010 NFL Draft and stay for his senior year . The team started off 3 – 3 . During practice after the loss to Missouri , Sherman put the game ' s film and play books in a barrel and burned it . In the ensuing Kansas game , Sherman made receiver Ryan Tannehill and longtime starter Jerrod Johnson split time at quarterback . Sherman replaced Johnson with Tannehill for the Texas Tech game . Under Tannehill ' s leadership , the Aggies compiled a 5 – 0 streak , which included wins over Oklahoma , Nebraska , and Texas . The Aggies finished the regular season 9 – 3 , with # 17 / 18 rankings in the AP / Coaches poll , respectively . They also won a share of the Big 12 South Division title .