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Entering year five, Texas is reaping the benefits of continuity under Steve Sarkisian

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook06/28/25josephcook89
Steve Sarkisian
Steve Sarkisian - Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There are a variety of things that are working in Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian‘s favor as he enters his fifth year leading the Longhorns. While he is seasoning a new starting quarterback in Arch Manning, there is no turnover at certain key positions on his coaching staff.

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Just like it was in year one, Sarkisian is the offensive play-caller, Pete Kwiatkowski is the defensive play-caller, and Jeff Banks is coordinating the Longhorn special teams.

“I’d like to say I’m a great guy to work for,” Sarkisian jokingly explained as the reason why Texas hasn’t had to turn over play-callers on Greg McElroy‘s Always College Football podcast.

Even though Sarkisian was somewhat joking, he was also being somewhat serious. He also gave props to not just the University of Texas athletic department, but also UT athletics director Chris Del Conte and the city of Austin in explaining why his program currently has the advantage of continuity.

“I try to treat these guys well,” Sarkisian said. “I appreciate Chris Del Conte and the resources we’re able to provide our assistant coaches to get them to stay. It’s a great place to live. A lot of people have to go on vacation, we stay-cation here whether it’s Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Barton Springs, downtown, there’s so much to do.”

Texas has brought in several consecutive top-six recruiting classes in order to bolster back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinal appearances. Those classes, brought in by those same assistant coaches, have helped the Longhorns approach the highest heights in college football.

“At the end of the day, we’re all better coaches when we can coach better players,” Sarkisian said. “I think that was something I learned from (Nick) Saban as well. These guys all have an opportunity to coach really good players in a great city. I think their families love it. A lot of their kids go to school here at UT right now.”

Texas has turned itself into one of the destination programs for high-level college football players. There is a chicken or egg conversation about whether successful recruiting creates winning or winning creates successful recruiting. No matter which is which, both eggs and chickens need the right conditions in order to thrive. Sark credited his team’s culture for creating those conditions.

“At the end of the day, I think we’ve created a good environment for them, too,” Sarkisian said. “As much as our culture has helped our players, I think our culture has helped our coaches as well. It’s always fun to win. Coach Saban would say this all the time, winning is fun. That’s the fun part about Alabama.

What was true in Tuscaloosa is starting to become true in Austin.

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“Now that we’re winning some games around here, that part’s fun too,” Sarkisian said.

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