Steve Sarkisian has fully embraced his role with Texas football and is eager for the challenges ahead.
Texas football boasts a rich history and a unique presence in the sport. The Longhorns, with their distinctive burnt orange and “hook ’em Horns” slogan, are a national treasure. However, the past decade has brought many struggles and dissatisfaction among fans. Many Texas supporters reminisce about the “glory days” with Vince Young and Mack Brown. Now, the Longhorns are looking to revive those memories with fresh faces leading the charge.
At the forefront is Steve Sarkisian, the current head coach of the Texas Longhorns. Known as “Coach Sark,” he has been a key figure in the recent successes of Texas football. Before arriving in Austin, Sarkisian coached at Washington, USC, Alabama (in two stints), and with the Atlanta Falcons. His first season with Texas in 2021 ended in disappointment with a 5-7 record.
Sarkisian’s second year saw some improvement but was still below expectations, with an 8-5 record despite having star players like running back Bijan Robinson and quarterback Quinn Ewers. However, the past season marked a drastic turnaround, culminating in a playoff appearance. This rapid success shifted fan sentiment strongly in Sarkisian’s favor, with increased belief in his ability to lead Texas to a National Championship.
“Well, I think part of it was our culture,” Sarkisian said at SEC Media Day via On3. “We had to keep building our culture, the things that were important to us, and that takes time. It takes time to learn the schemes. You bring in coaches and you have an idea of what you want to run, and that’s nothing against a previous staff, but maybe they didn’t recruit the types of players that fit what we wanted to be and how we wanted to play. So that takes time, too.”
Before Texas’ successful 2023 season, Sarkisian made significant moves, including signing five-star quarterback recruit Arch Manning in 2022 and bringing in former Georgia wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who integrated seamlessly into the team. Following a subpar 2022 season, Texas was ranked eleventh in the preseason polls. From there, the team’s performance soared.
“There’s development of players in your program, so hey, I’ll tell you this much, 5-7 in Austin, Texas, sucks. That was hard. That was hard on me. That was hard on players. That was hard on a lot of people. 8-5 was a little more palatable for people. But as you continue to stay committed to who you are and you stay committed to your course of action, you stay committed to what you believe in, over time you start to reap the benefits of that.”
Sarkisian’s journey in Austin has been remarkable. His success was built through years of development, patience, and time, taking Texas football from a losing record to a playoff contender in just three years. The Longhorns’ season ended with a narrow 37-31 loss to the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl.
Building something from the ground up is no easy task, but Sarkisian has done just that with passion and determination at the heart of Texas football. He has embraced every moment and is ready for more challenges and enjoyment along the way.
“That’s my challenge as a coach is to get our team in that frame of mind but, yet still enjoy the experience. There’s nothing like playing college football. It’s the greatest sport in the world. I know we’re going through all sorts of different changes right now, but the popularity and the excitement around college football right now is bigger and better than it’s ever been.”
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