The Barnhill Center is proud to present another Speaker Series event for 2026 on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 with Coach Willie Fritz, head football coach at The University of Houston!
Sponsored by the Howard Kruse Family
Willie Fritz, the 16th head coach in University of Houston football history, is one of the nation’s most accomplished and respected program builders. Entering his third season with the Cougars in 2026, Fritz has amassed 251 career wins across 33+ years as a collegiate head coach, ranking him among the winningest active coaches in FBS.
At Houston, he engineered the nation’s largest turnaround from 2024 to 2025, elevating the Cougars from four wins to ten, finishing the 2025 season ranked No. 19 and winning the Texas Bowl over LSU. His 2025 squad produced three All-Americans — the program’s most since 2009 — and notched the school's first ranked road win since 2017.
Before arriving in Houston, Fritz led Tulane to historic success, including the 2022 AAC Championship, a 12–2 season, and a No. 9 national ranking capped by a thrilling Cotton Bowl victory over USC. That year, he earned both the Dodd Trophy and the George Munger Coach of the Year Award.
Fritz’s head coaching career spans Blinn College, Central Missouri, Sam Houston, Georgia Southern, Tulane, and Houston, with eight 10‑win seasons, seven conference championships, and 73 players who have gone on to the NFL. Known for transforming programs at every stop, he previously won consecutive National Coach of the Year honors at the FCS level and led Blinn to two national junior college championships.
A Kansas native and former Pittsburg State defensive back, Fritz holds degrees in kinesiology and education. He and his wife Susan have a son, Wesley, two daughters, Lainie and Brooke and three grand children, Grant, Enzo and Mia.
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Individual tickets are $40 each and premium reserved tables for 8 attendees are $420 each.
Doors open at 11:00am.
Luncheon is served at 11:30am.
Seating is limited and no tickets will be sold at the door.
Ticket sales close at noon Friday, June 5th!
