From community college infielder to a ten-million-dollar head coach at Texas
In short: Steve Sarkisian's career is a study in volatility. After failing to secure college football offers, he pivoted from junior college baseball to becoming a record-setting quarterback. His coaching journey has been equally dramatic, marked by high-profile hirings, public struggles with alcohol, and a complete professional resurgence at the University of Texas.
Sarkisian's path to prominence was unconventional. Standing 6'0" and weighing 165 pounds in high school, he initially played baseball at the University of Southern California before transferring to El Camino College. There, he returned to football, eventually earning a scholarship to Brigham Young University. At BYU, he thrived under offensive coordinator Norm Chow, setting NCAA records for completion percentage and winning the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation's top passer in 1996.
His transition to coaching began at El Camino in 2000, followed by stints at USC and the Oakland Raiders. His first head coaching role at the University of Washington saw him improve a winless program, though he became known for inconsistent results. In 2014, he returned to USC as head coach, but his tenure ended abruptly in 2015 when he was fired following an indefinite leave of absence related to alcohol issues. He later filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the university, which he eventually lost.
Sarkisian rebuilt his reputation as an offensive coordinator at Alabama, where he won the Broyles Award in 2020. This success led to his appointment as the leader of the Texas Longhorns football program in 2021. After initial struggles, he transformed the team into a national contender, culminating in a 2023 Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. By 2024, his performance earned him a contract extension through 2030, with his annual salary rising to $10.3 million.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Steve Sarkisian
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