Steve Sarkisian’s life story is one of persistence, reinvention, and redemption. Best known today as the head coach of the University of Texas football program, Sarkisian is much more than just a figure on the sidelines. He is a man who has experienced the highest peaks of professional success and the most public of personal setbacks, and who has used those experiences to grow into a more balanced, reflective, and resilient individual. His personal journey is one that resonates well beyond the football field, serving as a testament to the power of accountability, self-awareness, and perseverance.
Born on March 8, 1974, in Torrance, California, Steve Sarkisian is the youngest of seven children in a large, working-class family. He is of Armenian and Irish heritage and was raised in the Catholic faith, something that continues to ground him through life’s challenges. His early athletic career didn’t follow a conventional path. Though a standout in baseball and football during high school, Sarkisian did not receive any college football offers due to his relatively slight frame and underdeveloped skills at the time. He began college as a non-scholarship baseball player at the University of Southern California, but eventually transferred to El Camino College, where he was encouraged to return to football. That decision would change his life.
At El Camino, Sarkisian rediscovered his passion for football and, in time, became a junior college All-American, setting a national record for completion percentage. His standout performance earned him a scholarship to Brigham Young University (BYU), where he became a starting quarterback and national star. In his senior season in 1996, he led BYU to a 14–1 record and a Cotton Bowl victory, threw for over 4,000 yards, and won the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation’s top passer. That season remains one of the greatest in BYU history.
After college, Sarkisian played three seasons professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. While his playing career didn’t reach NFL heights, the experience of competing at the professional level prepared him for the next stage of his life—coaching. Sarkisian’s transition from player to coach began at El Camino College, and by the early 2000s, he had joined the staff at USC under Pete Carroll. Over the next decade, he held high-profile coaching roles at USC, Washington, and the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, gaining a reputation for being an offensive strategist and quarterback mentor.
As a coach, Sarkisian is known for his offensive mind, calm sideline demeanour, and ability to connect with players. He is considered one of the most effective developers of quarterbacks in the game, with a style that blends pro-style principles with modern spread formations. He has helped shape the careers of quarterbacks like Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Quinn Ewers, and is often credited with installing some of the most efficient and explosive offensive schemes in college football.
However, Sarkisian’s personal life has not been without hardship. In 2015, during his tenure as head coach at USC, Sarkisian was placed on an indefinite leave of absence and ultimately fired after multiple alcohol-related incidents, including an appearance at practice under the influence. The incident was highly publicised and marked a low point in his career. Rather than deny or deflect, Sarkisian took responsibility. He entered a rehabilitation program and took time away from the game to address his struggles. He later acknowledged that he had long been trying to manage high-pressure roles without adequately addressing underlying issues.
This period of introspection and healing became a turning point. Sarkisian's comeback began at the University of Alabama, where head coach Nick Saban hired him first as an analyst and later as offensive coordinator. His time at Alabama was a resounding success. He helped guide the Crimson Tide to a national championship and won the Broyles Award in 2020 as the top assistant coach in college football. His transformation—both personally and professionally—was apparent to colleagues, players, and fans.
Sarkisian’s personal life includes both challenges and joys. He was previously married and has three children from his first marriage. In 2020, he remarried Loreal Smith, a former collegiate track athlete and coach. The couple had one son together and experienced a brief public separation in 2024 but later reconciled, choosing to work through their differences. Through all these phases, Sarkisian has remained committed to his family, often noting how fatherhood has shaped his perspective and priorities.
Today, Sarkisian is not only a successful coach but also a respected mentor, a devoted father, and an example of someone who has faced adversity, taken responsibility, and come out stronger. His honesty about his past challenges has made him relatable and trustworthy, particularly to young athletes navigating their own pressures. He has spoken publicly about the importance of mental health, balance, and seeking help, using his platform to normalise conversations that are often avoided in elite sports environments.
Steve Sarkisian played college football as a quarterback at Brigham Young University (BYU) from 1995 to 1996 after transferring from El Camino College, where he had been a junior college All-American. At BYU, Sarkisian thrived under the tutelage of legendary coach LaVell Edwards and offensive coordinator Norm Chow, leading a high-powered offence. In 1996, he passed for 4,027 yards and 33 touchdowns, earning WAC Offensive Player of the Year honours and winning the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation's top collegiate passer. Sarkisian led BYU to a 14–1 record, a Cotton Bowl victory, and a top-five national ranking, cementing one of the most successful seasons in program history. Following college, he played three professional seasons (1997–1999) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he gained international experience before retiring to pursue coaching.
After retiring from professional play, Sarkisian transitioned into coaching, beginning at El Camino College and quickly rising through the ranks. He served as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at USC, where he helped develop several top-tier quarterbacks. Sarkisian then took on head coaching roles at Washington (2009–2013) and USC (2014–2015), improving team performance and recruiting elite talent. Following a brief setback, he revitalised his career as offensive coordinator at Alabama, where he won the 2020 Broyles Award and helped lead the team to a national championship with one of the most dominant offences in NCAA history.
In 2021, Sarkisian was named head coach of the Texas Longhorns. Under his leadership, Texas experienced a strong resurgence, winning the 2023 Big 12 Championship, reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals, and finishing with a top-three national ranking. Known for his offensive expertise and quarterback development, Sarkisian has become one of the most respected coaches in college football. His career is marked by strategic brilliance, resilience through adversity, and the ability to build elite-level programs across multiple conferences.
Steve Sarkisian did not have an extensive international playing or coaching career, but he did gain professional experience abroad during his playing days in the Canadian Football League (CFL). After a standout collegiate career at Brigham Young University (BYU), Sarkisian played three seasons (1997–1999) as a quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, one of the most established teams in the CFL. His international playing career in Canada provided him with exposure to a different style of football, including variations in field dimensions, motion rules, and offensive dynamics, which subtly influenced his understanding of game planning and offensive systems.
Steve Sarkisian’s style of coaching is defined by offensive creativity, quarterback development, and player-focused leadership, making him one of the most respected offensive minds in college football. At the core of his approach is a dynamic, adaptable offensive system that blends pro-style concepts with modern spread principles. He is known for crafting game plans that maximise matchups, utilise motion and formation variety, and place quarterbacks in positions to make quick, effective reads. His schemes are often high-tempo, balanced between run and pass, and designed to stress defences horizontally and vertically.
A key hallmark of Sarkisian’s coaching is his quarterback-centric philosophy. He works closely with his quarterbacks, helping them master reads, footwork, and decision-making. This has led to the successful development of elite players like Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Quinn Ewers, all of whom have thrived under his guidance. Sarkisian’s attention to detail and ability to simplify complex concepts allow his quarterbacks to play with confidence and efficiency.
Beyond tactics, Sarkisian is also recognised for his calm and composed sideline presence and his ability to relate to players. He is known to create a culture of trust, communication, and personal accountability. His leadership style balances strategic authority with emotional intelligence, which has helped him earn the respect of athletes, assistants, and staff. Following personal setbacks earlier in his career, Sarkisian has also become more empathetic and reflective, using his own experiences to support and mentor players both on and off the field.
Outside of football, Steve Sarkisian’s life has been shaped by family, personal growth, and faith, offering a deeper dimension to his public persona as a coach. Born in Torrance, California, and the youngest of seven children, Sarkisian comes from a diverse background of Armenian and Irish descent, and was raised in the Catholic faith, which continues to influence his values and perspective. His early years were defined not by fame, but by hard work and perseverance, especially as he overcame the initial lack of college football opportunities and transferred from baseball to football at a community college. Off the field, Sarkisian has faced personal challenges, most notably a very public divorce in 2015 and struggles with alcohol dependency, which contributed to his dismissal from USC. These events became a turning point, prompting him to enter treatment and focus on long-term personal healing. He has since spoken openly about his experiences, becoming an example of accountability and redemption. Sarkisian remarried in 2020 to Loreal Smith, a former collegiate track star and coach, and the couple share one son together, in addition to Sarkisian’s three children from his previous marriage. In 2024, they briefly filed for divorce but later reconciled, underscoring his continued commitment to family and personal stability. Away from the game, Sarkisian is known to be a devoted father and values time with his children despite the demanding nature of his profession. His ability to balance personal recovery, family commitments, and professional excellence highlights a life marked not just by wins and losses, but by resilience, personal reflection, and growth beyond the field. Through adversity, Sarkisian has emerged not only as a better coach, but a stronger individual, making his life story resonate far beyond the world of sport.
Steve Sarkisian’s legacy in American football is a story of offensive brilliance, leadership at elite programs, and a remarkable journey of personal and professional redemption. Known for his deep understanding of offensive systems, Sarkisian has been widely praised as one of the most innovative play-callers and quarterback developers in college football. Throughout his career, he has mentored and developed high-profile quarterbacks such as Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Quinn Ewers, turning each into highly productive leaders under centre. His offensive schemes are marked by their explosiveness, adaptability, and efficiency—attributes that have consistently ranked his teams among the best in scoring and yardage.
Sarkisian has served in head coaching roles at three major programs—the University of Washington, USC, and the University of Texas at Austin—demonstrating both strategic vision and long-term program-building skills. His most notable achievement came at Texas, where he revived a struggling Longhorns program and led them to the 2023 Big 12 Championship, their first since 2009, and into the College Football Playoff semifinals, finishing with a top-three national ranking. This marked a significant milestone in Texas football history and firmly established Sarkisian as a top-tier head coach.
Before his success in Austin, Sarkisian played a critical role at Alabama, where he served as offensive coordinator under Nick Saban. His work there earned him the 2020 Broyles Award, recognising him as the nation’s top assistant coach, after leading the Crimson Tide’s offence to historic numbers during their national championship run. His Alabama tenure not only showcased his elite football mind but also reintroduced him to the national stage after a difficult chapter in his life.
Sarkisian’s legacy is equally shaped by his highly publicised fall and subsequent comeback. In 2015, he was dismissed from USC due to personal issues related to alcohol, a moment that could have ended his coaching career. Instead, he entered rehabilitation, took accountability for his actions, and worked diligently to return to the sport he loved. His willingness to confront his struggles, seek help, and re-earn trust from peers and players has transformed him into a symbol of resilience, accountability, and redemption in the high-pressure world of college athletics.
Today, Sarkisian is among the highest-paid coaches in college football, with a contract at Texas extending through 2030 and an annual salary exceeding $10 million. His leadership style blends tactical sharpness with personal empathy, earning him admiration not only for his results on the field but also for his growth off it. He is widely seen as a coach who can build elite programmes, mentor young talent, and inspire through adversity, leaving a legacy defined by excellence, perseverance, and lasting impact on the sport.
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