Mack Brown first brought Tom Herman to Texas.
Urban Myer and Ohio State gave Herman invaluable exposure as the offensive coordinator of a national champion.
As important as each was to the new Texas coach, Rice coach David Bailiff might have provided the biggest boost just when Herman needed it a little more than decade ago. If Bailiff hadn't hired Herman as his offensive coordinator at Texas State before the 2005 season, Herman's other option was to become the offensive coordinator at Cypress Falls High School and potentially a different career path.
The eventual offer at Texas State set off the dominoes that would make Herman one of the top offensive coaches in the country, a hot property at Houston and now the new head coach of one of the highest-profile programs in the country.