Steve Sarkisian is an American football coach who has been the head coach of the Texas Longhorns football team since January 2021. Under his tutelage, Texas came from a 5-7 mark in 2021 to a spectacular 12-2 record in 2023, including a Big 12 Championship and a qualification in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Sarkisian, as the offensive coordinator at Alabama, won the national championship in 2020. He won the Broyles Award for the best assistant coach of the year in 2020. Sarkisian also won the AP Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2023.
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Steve Sarkisian Coaching History
Steve Sarkisian has gained over 20 years of coaching experience. He began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach at El Camino College in 2000 before transferring to the University of Southern California in 2001.
USC and the Oakland Raiders (2001-2008, 2014-15)
Sarkisian joined his old coach, Norm Chow, at USC. In 2001, Sarkisian served as an offensive assistant. In 2002 and 2003, he was the quarterbacks coach. Sarkisian entered the professional ranks in 2004 and became the quarterbacks coach for the NFL's Oakland Raiders. In addition to his responsibilities as quarterbacks coach, Sarkisian was promoted to assistant head coach when he rejoined USC for the 2005 campaign.
Washington (2009-2013)
On December 8, 2008, the University of Washington held a press conference in the Don James Center at Husky Stadium to announce Sarkisian as its 23rd head football coach. Sarkisian signed a contract in 2009 that earned him $1.75 million, and by 2013, his compensation had increased to $2.3 million. The initial five-year deal Sarkisian signed in 2009 paid $1.75 million in guaranteed funds for the first year, which increased to $2.0 million in 2011 and $2.3 million in 2013. A new five-year contract that paid $2.25 million in guaranteed money in 2011 and $2.85 million in 2015 was signed by him after the 2010 season and bowl victory.
USC (2014-15)
Sarkisian decided to rejoin USC and accepted the head coaching position on December 2, 2013. In 2015, Sarkisian was let go on October 12.
Alabama (2016, 2019-2020)
Sarkisian joined Alabama as a football team analyst in September 2016. On January 2, 2017, Sarkisian was elevated to the job of offensive coordinator for Alabama after Lane Kiffin left to take a position as head coach at Florida Atlantic. In the national championship game versus Clemson, he took over. In his first and only game as offensive coordinator in 2016, the Tide would lose to the Tigers by a slim margin.
Atlanta Falcons (2017-18)
Sarkisian was named as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator on February 7, 2017, replacing Kyle Shanahan. Under his direction, the offense's scoring output decreased from 33.8 points per game in 2016 (when it led the NFL) to 22.1 points per game in 2017. The offense increased its scoring to 25.9 points per game in 2018.
Texas (2021-Present)
Sarkisian was appointed the University of Texas at Austin's thirty-first head football coach on January 2, 2021. His first deal with Texas was for $34.2 million over six years. Steve Sarkisian received a four-year contract extension through 2030 on February 22, 2024, which also raised his 2024 compensation to $10.3 million.
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FAQs on Steve Sarkisian
A. Steve Sarkisian attended West High School.
A. Steve Sarkisian played as a quarterback.
A. Steve Sarkisian played for El Camino and BYU Cougars.
A. Steve Sarkisian played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
