Steve Sarkisian Addresses Coaching Rumors
Steve Sarkisian, the head coach of the Longhorns, is firmly stating he has no plans to leave. He recently dismissed speculation suggesting an imminent split between him and Texas, describing the rumors during Wednesday’s SEC coaches conference call as “completely false and untrue.”
“I’ve never discussed opportunities with my agent, other colleges, or any NFL team about going elsewhere,” Sarkisian stressed passionately. “I came here to win championships. My two kids are enrolled at the University of Texas—one’s in law school, and the other plays on our team. Plus, our youngest was just born here in Austin. This is where we want to be. We came to win championships.”
He continued, reflecting on the progress made since he took over: “We’ve developed a really strong football program over the past five years. We’ve reached the College Football Playoff twice, secured the Big 12 championship, and made it to the SEC championship in our first year. Plus, we’ve had 23 players drafted in the last two years, more than any other school. Our team’s GPA is at an all-time high. So, I’d appreciate it if we could stop spreading baseless claims. Can we stop retweeting and sharing them as if they’re factual? It’s inaccurate.”
Last month, Sarkisian and his team rejected a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, which asserted he had expressed interest in pursuing an NFL head coaching role. His agents, Jimmy Sexton and Ed Melinowitz, firmly asserted that “reports about conversations related to coaching opportunities with NFL teams are not just false—they’re grossly inaccurate. Mr. Sarkisian is fully committed to the University of Texas football program.”
A week later, Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris Del Conte echoed that sentiment, stating there was “no truth” to Russini’s report. Sarkisian also expressed his frustration during an appearance on “The Paul Finebaum Show.”
Earlier this year, Sarkisian and the university agreed to an extension after the Longhorns reached the College Football Playoff semifinals for the second consecutive year, despite interest from NFL teams.
Currently, Texas stands at 7-3, facing the potential need for outside assistance to secure another CFP spot with a game against Arkansas on Saturday.
The Longhorns are ranked No. 17 and could fall out of the rankings if the season ended today.
