Tom Herman is 50 years old in 2025. The former Texas and Houston head coach, known for explosive offenses and big personalities, is currently without a team after being fired from Florida Atlantic in November 2024. With a career net worth estimated between $18–22 million, a rock-solid marriage to wife Michelle since 2001, and three kids, Herman’s story is far from over.
Early Life: The Making of a Coach
Born June 2, 1975, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Tom Herman grew up in a broken home. His parents divorced when he was young, and he moved to Simi Valley, California with his mother. Money was tight, his father struggled with addiction and later became homeless, and Herman rarely saw him. Those tough years built the relentless work ethic that carried him from a $5,000-a-year graduate assistant job to multi-million-dollar contracts.
He played wide receiver and graduated cum laude from tiny California Lutheran University in 1997, then started coaching almost immediately. Most fans don’t realize he’s a certified Mensa member—officially a genius on paper, even if the sidelines sometimes told a different story.
Tom Herman Height and Weight
Height: Approximately 5-foot-10 (178 cm)
Weight: Around 200–215 lbs in recent photos (he dropped noticeable weight after knee replacement surgery in 2022).
Herman has never been the tallest guy on the sideline, but his energy and intensity always made him stand out.
Coaching Career Highlights and Lowlights
Herman exploded onto the national scene as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator in 2014, winning the Broyles Award and a national championship with third-string quarterback Cardale Jones. He took over Houston in 2015, went 22-4, beat Florida State in the Peach Bowl, and suddenly became the hottest name in coaching.
Texas hired him in 2017 with a contract that eventually topped $6.75 million per year. He delivered a Sugar Bowl win over Georgia in 2018, but inconsistent recruiting and defensive struggles led to his firing after the 2020 season—and a buyout north of $15 million.
After a one-year stint as an analyst with the Chicago Bears, Florida Atlantic brought him back as head coach in 2023. It didn’t work. FAU went 4-8, then started 2-8 in 2024 before Herman was fired on November 18, 2024—earning another multi-million-dollar buyout in the process.
Salary History and Net Worth 2025
| Years | Team / Role |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Texas Lutheran (GA) |
| 2015–2016 | Houston Head Coach ($1.35M → $3M+) |
| 2017–2020 | Texas Head Coach ($5.5M → $6.75M) |
| 2020 firing | Texas buyout ~$15–16 million |
| 2021 | Chicago Bears analyst |
| 2023–2024 | FAU Head Coach (~$1M per year) |
| 2024 firing | FAU buyout ~$4 million |
Estimated net worth in 2025: $18–22 million. Between the Texas and FAU buyouts alone, he’s collected well over $20 million in severance since 2020.
Married Life and Family
Tom Herman has been married to Michelle Herman (née Tatarakis) since May 19, 2001—that’s over 24 years and counting. They met as freshmen at Cal Lutheran in 1993 and started dating almost immediately. No scandals, no rumors, just a genuinely strong partnership.
Michelle worked multiple jobs while Tom climbed the coaching ladder, even sending him money when he was a broke grad assistant. The couple has three children: sons Maverick and Maddock, and daughter Priya.
In a profession where divorce is common, the Hermans are a refreshing exception.
What’s Next for Tom Herman in 2025 and Beyond?
At 50 years old, with two massive buyouts in his bank account and an offensive mind that once revolutionized the spread, Herman won’t stay on the sidelines forever. Expect him to resurface—maybe as a Power 5 offensive coordinator, maybe at another Group of 5 program willing to pay for a proven rebuilder.
One thing is certain: the fire that took a kid from a broken home to the brightest lights of college football is still burning.
