At long last, the United Football League (UFL) has eight head coaches. Kevin Sumlin is returning to the Houston Gamblers as their Head Coach for the 2026 UFL season, the league announced today.

Kevin Sumlin is no stranger to spring football. He coached the Houston Gamblers during the USFL’s inaugural season – but struggled to find much of a rhythm, finishing with a 3-7 record. The team did win their last two games, though, ending on a high note.

Sumlin has quite a bit of coaching experience, with some of it being local. He was the University of Houston’s Head Coach from 2008-2011, before taking over at Texas A&M from 2012-2017. Sumlin worked with Johnny Manziel at A&M, earning SEC Coach of the Year honors in 2012.

Kevin was named the Head Coach of Arizona in 2018, after his departure from Texas. He coached there until 2020, and took a year off before returning to the scene with his first pro football opportunity in the USFL.

Sumlin didn’t return to coach the Gamblers in 2023, as he received an opportunity at Maryland, to serve as an Assistant Head Coach/co-Offensive Coordinator.

Now, Kevin Sumlin returns to the spring football scene. He’s got a history in Houston, in both college and the USFL. It’s worth noting that he replaces C.J. Johnson – who originally, was Sumlin’s replacement in Houston ahead of the USFL’s 2023 season.

Full Press Release

 

What are your thoughts on Kevin Sumlin returning to the Houston Gamblers? Is this the right move by the UFL? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!

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