Steve Sarkisian has become one of the most recognizable names in American college football. As the head coach of the Texas Longhorns, he has guided a storied program back into national championship contention after years in the wilderness. But Steve Sarkisian’s story is more than wins and losses — it’s a tale of early promise, public failure, and a hard-won comeback. This article explores his early life, playing career, coaching journey, personal life, and the legacy he continues to build at the University of Texas.
Who Is Steve Sarkisian?
Stephen Sarkisian, widely known as Steve Sarkisian or simply “Sark,” is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as the head football coach at the University of Texas at Austin. Born March 8, 1974, in Torrance, California, he has spent more than two decades in coaching, working at both the collegiate and professional levels. Today, Steve Sarkisian is regarded as one of the sharpest offensive minds in college football, known for developing elite quarterbacks and building explosive, high-scoring offenses that consistently rank among the nation’s best.
Early Life and Family Background
Steve Sarkisian was born the youngest of seven children in a household shaped by two very different heritages — Armenian and Irish. His father, Seb Sarkisian, was born in Tehran and immigrated to the United States at age 18, while his mother, Sally, was raised in Boston. Sarkisian was raised Catholic, and this large, blended family background instilled in him a strong work ethic from an early age. Growing up in Southern California, he was immersed in sports culture long before anyone imagined he would one day coach at the highest level of college football.
High School Years at West High School
Sarkisian attended West High School in Torrance, California, where he starred in both baseball and football. Despite his talent, his modest size — listed at just 6-foot-0 and 165 pounds — meant he received no college football scholarship offers. This lack of recruitment could have ended his athletic ambitions, but it instead became the first chapter in a career defined by resilience. Rather than give up on competitive sports, Sarkisian pursued a college path through baseball, setting the stage for an unconventional route into college football that few modern head coaches have followed.
College Athletic Career: From Baseball to Football
In 1992, Sarkisian began his college athletic journey at the University of Southern California (USC) as a non-scholarship middle infielder on the baseball team. He also played baseball at El Camino Junior College before eventually transferring his focus to football. He walked on as a quarterback at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he developed into a standout passer and earned recognition as an All-American quarterback. This unusual dual-sport path gave Sarkisian a broader athletic foundation and a deep understanding of competition that would later define his coaching philosophy.
Professional Playing Career in the CFL
After his college football career at BYU concluded, Steve Sarkisian briefly pursued professional football, signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he played from 1997 to 1999. His playing career in the CFL was short-lived and did not lead to NFL opportunities, but it gave him invaluable exposure to professional-level offensive systems. This period proved pivotal, as it pushed Sarkisian toward coaching rather than playing, setting in motion a career transition that would ultimately define his life’s work in football.
Start of a Coaching Career
Sarkisian’s coaching career began modestly at El Camino Junior College, the same school where he had once played baseball, where he took on the role of quarterbacks coach. From there, he joined Pete Carroll’s coaching staff at USC, working closely under Norm Chow, his former position coach and offensive coordinator during his playing days at BYU. This mentorship under Chow and Carroll gave Sarkisian a front-row education in building elite college offenses, and it wasn’t long before his talent for quarterback development and play design started attracting attention across the sport.
Rising Through the Ranks at USC
During his time at USC, Sarkisian steadily climbed the coaching ladder, eventually being named assistant head coach from 2007 to 2008. Working within one of the most successful programs in college football history sharpened his offensive philosophy and coaching instincts. His reputation as a “quarterback whisperer” grew during these years, as he helped mentor talented passers within Carroll’s system. This foundation at USC would directly lead to his first opportunity as a head coach, launching him into one of the most closely watched coaching careers of his generation.
Head Coach at the University of Washington (2009–2013)
In 2009, Steve Sarkisian was named head coach at the University of Washington, taking over a struggling program. It was here that he transformed quarterback Jake Locker into a dual-threat star and gradually rebuilt the Huskies into a competitive Pac-12 program. Over five seasons in Seattle, Sarkisian demonstrated his ability to develop talent and design explosive offensive schemes. His success at Washington did not go unnoticed, and in 2014, his alma mater came calling with an opportunity that would test him in ways he never anticipated.
Return to USC as Head Coach (2014–2015)
Sarkisian returned to USC as head coach in 2014, tasked with restoring the Trojans to their former glory. While his offensive schemes remained effective, his tenure was cut short amid personal struggles. In 2015, he was fired midway through his second season following a series of alcohol-related incidents, including a highly publicized episode at a booster event where he appeared visibly intoxicated. This period marked the lowest point of his professional life and became a defining moment that Sarkisian has since spoken about openly as part of his personal growth and recovery.
The Comeback: NFL Stint with the Atlanta Falcons
Following his departure from USC, Steve Sarkisian took time to seek help and rebuild his personal life before returning to football. In 2017, he got a second chance in professional football, joining the Atlanta Falcons as their offensive coordinator, a role he held through the 2018 season. This NFL stint allowed Sarkisian to step back from the head-coaching spotlight while still sharpening his offensive expertise at the highest level of competition, laying important groundwork for the redemption story that would follow at his next stop.
Redemption at Alabama Under Nick Saban
In 2019, legendary coach Nick Saban gave Sarkisian a pivotal opportunity, first as an offensive analyst and then as offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama through the 2020 season. This stint became the turning point of his career. Sarkisian was the architect of an Alabama offense that scored 35 or more points in 24 consecutive games, the longest such streak in major college football history. His work culminated in the 2020 National Championship, where Alabama dominated Ohio State 52-24, and Sarkisian earned the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.
Becoming Head Coach of the Texas Longhorns
On January 2, 2021, Steve Sarkisian was named the 31st head football coach in Texas Longhorns history. The hire was seen as a bold bet on a coach who had already experienced both dramatic highs and painful lows. Texas fans hoped Sarkisian’s proven offensive system and personal resilience would finally return the program to national relevance after years of underachievement under previous coaching regimes. What followed was a methodical, sometimes rocky rebuild that would ultimately validate the university’s confidence in him.
2021 Season: Rebuilding Begins
Sarkisian’s first season at Texas began with promise, including a 38-18 win over Louisiana, but the Longhorns struggled to find consistency. The team lost six consecutive games during the year, something the program had not experienced since 1956, and finished with a disappointing 5-7 record. Despite the rough results, there were bright spots, including a top-tier Big 12 offense and freshman receiver Xavier Worthy earning conference honors, signaling that foundational pieces were falling into place for future success.
2022 Season: Signs of Progress
The Longhorns improved significantly in 2022, finishing 8-5 and earning a berth in the Alamo Bowl. A near-upset of top-ranked Alabama and standout performances from running back Bijan Robinson, who won the Doak Walker Award, showed the program was trending upward. Every loss that season came by seven points or fewer, suggesting the Longhorns were closer to elite competition than their record indicated. This narrow-margin resilience became an early hallmark of the Sarkisian rebuild at Texas.
2023 Season: Big 12 Championship and CFP Debut
2023 marked a breakthrough year for Steve Sarkisian and Texas. The Longhorns posted a 12-2 record, defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa, won the Big 12 Championship over Oklahoma State 49-21, and earned the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Although Texas fell to Washington 37-31 in a heartbreaking Sugar Bowl semifinal, the season represented the most successful year for the program in over a decade and cemented Sarkisian as a coach capable of competing for national titles.
2024 Season: SEC Debut and Back-to-Back Playoff Runs
Texas transitioned into the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2024, and Sarkisian again delivered, leading the Longhorns to a 13-3 record, an SEC Championship Game appearance, and a second consecutive College Football Playoff semifinal berth. The 13 wins matched a school record, and Texas achieved back-to-back top-five finishes for the first time since 2008-09. This consistency across conferences proved that Sarkisian’s system could adapt and thrive even against the toughest competition in college football.
2025 Season and Contract Extension
Reflecting his sustained success, Texas approved a contract extension for Sarkisian in February 2025, running through the 2031 season and making him the third-highest-paid coach in college football, behind only Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney. The 2025 season opened with a loss to defending champion Ohio State in a game watched by 16.1 million viewers, the most-watched Week 1 game in college football history, followed by losses to Florida and Georgia that kept Texas out of the playoff. Even so, Sarkisian entered the year with an 84-52 career record as a head coach.
Coaching Style and Philosophy
Steve Sarkisian is widely respected for his offensive innovation, particularly his ability to develop quarterbacks and design schemes that maximize skill-position talent. His system blends pro-style concepts learned under Nick Saban with the spread principles he refined at Washington and USC. Beyond scheme, Sarkisian is known for emphasizing culture, accountability, and player development — values shaped by his own personal setbacks. Colleagues and players frequently describe him as self-aware, disciplined, and deeply committed to building sustainable success rather than chasing short-term results.
Family Life: Marriage to Stephanie Sarkisian and Children
Before his coaching fame, Steve Sarkisian married his first wife, Stephanie Sarkisian, in 1997. The couple shared nearly two decades together and had three children: two daughters and a son. In April 2015, it was reported that Sarkisian and Stephanie had filed for divorce, a proceeding finalized around 2016. The couple later released a joint statement emphasizing their shared commitment to co-parenting and protecting their children’s privacy. Their son, Brady Sarkisian, has followed his father into football, playing as a linebacker for the Texas Longhorns, while Stephanie has largely stayed out of the public eye since the separation.
Second Marriage to Loreal Smith
Steve Sarkisian married Loreal Smith, a former collegiate track athlete and coach turned fashion stylist, on June 29, 2020. The couple briefly filed for divorce in the summer of 2024 before reconciling. In April 2025, they welcomed their first child together, a son named Amayas, with Sarkisian notably missing spring practice at Texas to be present for the birth. Loreal has since built her own public profile as a stylist and philanthropist, often appearing alongside Sarkisian at high-profile football events while balancing her own career.
Net Worth and Coaching Salary
As one of the sport’s top-paid coaches, Steve Sarkisian’s financial profile reflects his on-field success. His current contract, extended through 2031, pays him approximately $10.8 million annually as of 2025, placing him among the highest-earning coaches in college football. Reports indicate his buyout, should he be dismissed without cause, would equal roughly 85% of his remaining contract — an estimated $45.4 million figure that underscores the university’s long-term confidence in his leadership and the financial stakes tied to modern college football coaching contracts.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Steve Sarkisian has earned numerous accolades reflecting his offensive expertise and program-building success. He won the 2020 Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach at Alabama and has been named a finalist multiple times for the Bear Bryant, George Munger, and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year awards during his tenure at Texas. His teams have produced numerous All-Americans, conference award winners, and top NFL Draft picks, further cementing his reputation as one of the premier offensive architects and program builders in college football today.
Steve Sarkisian’s Legacy in College Football
Few coaches embody the concept of a comeback story quite like Steve Sarkisian. From a heavily scrutinized firing at USC to national championship contention at Texas, his career illustrates resilience, self-reflection, and professional reinvention. As he continues building the Longhorns into a perennial contender, Sarkisian’s legacy is increasingly defined not by his past struggles but by sustained excellence, mentorship, and a program culture built to last. For college football fans, his ongoing tenure at Texas remains one of the most compelling coaching narratives in the sport.
Conclusion
Steve Sarkisian’s journey from an undersized high school athlete to one of college football’s most respected head coaches is a story of talent, setbacks, and hard-earned redemption. His time at Washington, USC, Alabama, and now Texas showcases both his offensive genius and his personal growth. With a strong roster, a long-term contract, and a proven track record of competing for championships, Steve Sarkisian appears poised to keep the Texas Longhorns among college football’s elite programs for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Steve Sarkisian? Steve Sarkisian is an American football coach who currently serves as the head football coach of the Texas Longhorns, having previously coached at Washington, USC, and served as offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and Alabama.
2. When was Steve Sarkisian born? He was born on March 8, 1974, in Torrance, California.
3. Why was Steve Sarkisian fired from USC? Sarkisian was fired midway through the 2015 season following several alcohol-related incidents, including appearing intoxicated at a public booster event and missing team obligations.
4. Who is Steve Sarkisian’s wife? He was previously married to Stephanie Sarkisian from 1997 to around 2016, with whom he has three children. He later married Loreal Smith in 2020, and the couple has a son together.
5. How many children does Steve Sarkisian have? Sarkisian has three children from his first marriage — daughters and a son named Brady, who plays linebacker at Texas — and a fourth child, son Amayas, born in 2025 with his wife Loreal.
6. What is Steve Sarkisian’s record at Texas? Entering the 2025 season, Sarkisian held an 84-52 overall record as a head coach, including a 38-17 mark across his tenure at the University of Texas.
7. How much does Steve Sarkisian make as Texas head coach? As of 2025, Sarkisian earns approximately $10.8 million annually, making him the third-highest-paid coach in college football.
