Herring hired as A&M's defensive coordinator

1/4/2008 6:31 PM

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -Reggie Herring, Arkansas' interim head coach in the Cotton Bowl, was hired Friday to become the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M.

The 48-year-old Herring was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Arkansas for the past three seasons under Houston Nutt, who resigned on Nov. 26. Nutt's successor, Bobby Petrino, hired Mississippi State defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.

Herring will replace Gary Darnell, who worked for Dennis Franchione the past two seasons. Darnell became A&M's interim coach on Nov. 24, the day after Franchione resigned, and coached the Aggies through their 24-17 loss to Penn State in the Alamo Bowl.

Mike Sherman, hired on Nov. 26, permanently replaced Franchione this week.