USA TODAY International Edition
Texas banks on winner in Sarkisian
Texas has officially named Steve Sarkisian its next head football coach, a job he’ll take on full time after vying for a national championship as Alabama’s offensive coordinator.
Sarkisian is taking over a Texas program that has won four straight bowl games, gone 22- 13 in Big 12 play over the last four seasons and fired coach Tom Herman for it. Sarkisian will face high expectations in Austin, and these traits give reason to predict success.
Quarterback master
Just in his Alabama tenure, Sarkisian played a role in a big start to the 2019 season for Tua Tagovailoa and the 2020 breakout to Heisman Trophy candidacy of Mac Jones, plus the successful recruitment of five- star Bryce Young and four- star Jalen Milroe, ironically a former Texas commit.
A Texas quarterback has not led the Big 12 in passer rating since 2009. Sarkisian’s continued success at that position would be a welcome change of pace for the Longhorns.
Saban chose him to run things in his absence
Nick Saban had two absences in the 2020 season due to COVID- 19, one for three days for a false positive and another for nearly 10 days and the Iron Bowl against Auburn for a confirmed case. In both instances, Saban selected Sarkisian to run operations in the building while Saban worked remotely; and in the Iron Bowl, Sarkisian was the acting head coach for in- game decisions Saban typically makes.
Sarkisian reached that stature with Saban quickly and in contested company. Alabama also had former head coaches Kyle Flood, Major Applewhite, Butch Jones, Charlie Strong and Mike Stoops on staff this season, and Sarkisian is in his second season as offensive coordinator after a brief stint as an analyst.
A track record of featured ball- carriers
Bijan Robinson was the win of the 2020 recruiting class for the Longhorns, who secured the No. 1 running back in the nation. His freshman season was underwhelming from a usage standpoint, averaging only 9.56 carries per game, but that shouldn’t be an issue under Sarkisian.
In Sarkisian’s two seasons at Alabama, Najee Harris has been an unquestioned feature back despite quality depth in the form Brian Robinson Jr., Keilan Robinson, Roydell Williams and Jase McClellan. Sarkisian’s track record as head coach at Southern California and Washington show the same tendency.
No stranger to big jobs
Sarkisian is four years from his 50th birthday, yet he has been the primary play- caller at Alabama, the NFL’s Falcons and at USC twice, once as an assistant and once as head coach.
His head coaching experience includes being fired by USC, but his tenure at Washington gave reason for optimism, with a winning record in conference play in four of his five seasons. His one full season at USC ended with a Holiday Bowl win.