Steve Sarkisian discusses reasons for bringing new assistants to Texas

After a disappointing start to his head coaching tenure at Texas, Steve Sarkisian has cleaned his coaching staff up ahead of the 2022 season. He mentioned three new hires in particular that he sees as key heading into spring practice.

Tashard Choice, running backs coach:

“Tashard Choice [will be] replacing Stan Drayton coaching in the running backs. He has an unbelievable amount of energy. Great recruiter, great technician at the position. I think this guy provides a lot to our staff internally in what he brings from a staff perspective and in relationships to the players, but also on the recruiting front and then also the development of the players at the position is big,” Sarkisian said of Choice, a former NFL running back.

Brennan Marion, wide receivers coach:

“Brennan Marion [is coming] on board, coming from Pitt coaching the wide receivers. Another young up and coming coach, a guy who really thrives in the technical aspect of the game.

One of the best developers of talent that I’ve been around and his interview process was really great for me to watch how he develops the players,” Sarkisian said. “The drill work that he does with [players] to get them prepared, not to mention he’s very innovative, offensive minded — he did some really good things when he was back at William & Mary and things, and so I think he’ll add to that dimension with us as well.”

Gary Patterson, special assistant to the head coach:

“Then obviously having Gary Patterson on staff as kind of my special assistant in an area — I just kind of leaned back into my time at Alabama with coach [Nick] Saban. And that was not uncommon for head coaches that maybe were taking a year or two [off] to come on board at Alabama when I was there,” Sarkisian said. “My last year, I think we had five former head coaches on staff, actually six former head coaches on staff — four of which were analysts at that time.

So anytime you can get somebody with a wealth of experience and knowledge, you know, 21 years as a head coach in the Big 12 Conference in the state of Texas, just a valuable asset for us on a lot of fronts, so we’re excited to have him on board as well.”

Patterson was the head coach at TCU for over two decades and has led the Horned Frogs program to some of the best seasons in program history. Can he do the same as Sarkisian’s right hand man at Texas?