hˈaɪɚd baɪ dʒˈɑːn mækˈɑːvɪk æz dᵻfˈɛnsɪv koʊˈɔːɹdᵻnˌeɪɾɚɹ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt, tˈɛpɚ wʌz pɹəmˈoʊɾᵻd tə hˈɛd kˈoʊtʃ wɛn mækˈɑːvɪk ɐksˈɛptᵻd ðə hˈɛd kˈoʊtʃɪŋ pəzˈɪʃən æt ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv tˈɛksəs.
Hired by John Mackovic as defensive coordinator in 1988, Tepper was promoted to head coach when Mackovic accepted the head coaching position at the University of Texas.