Steve Sarkisian 'fired up' for Jeff Choate to land Nevada job

Steve Sarkisian couldn’t be happier to hear Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate is the future head coach of the Nevada Wolf Pack.

While he’ll miss him on his staff, Sarkisian recognizes that it’s the next step in Choate career. Speaking with the media, the Longhorns leader took some time to explain why he’s “fired up” for Choate.

“As far as Coach Choate, first of all, I’m so fired up for him,” Sarkisian said. “He took a little bit of a leap of faith when he came here. He’s the head coach at Montana State. He had built that program. They were competitive, they were competing for championship. To come here as a linebacker/co-defensive coordinator, was a little bit of a leap of faith, looking for something that could be even better in return. Making the investment that he did.

“I’m sure like all of us, he was thinking, ‘What the heck am I doing?’ when you’re 5-7 after Year 1. Like, ‘I don’t know if this was the right move.’ But now after Year 3, to be the head coach at Nevada, a great program. I know they’re a little down on their times right now. We all get hired for a reason. He’ll do a heck of a job.”

Moreover, Choate was originally named the co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Texas on Jan. 28, 2021. Before joining the Longhorns coaching staff, he spent four years as the head coach with Montana State from 2016-2020, as Sarkisian mentioned.

During his run with the Bobcats, Choate led them to back-to-back Division I-AA playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019, taking them to the semifinals during the latter year. That was the Bobcats’ best postseason run since 1984, and during his final two seasons there, he led them to a 19-9 record.

In his four seasons as the head coach with the Bobcats, he finished with an overall record of 28-22, including 18-14 in conference.

Before joining the Wolf Pack, Choate will be hoping to help land Texas a national title. Sarkisian knows all about finishing your business before leaving for your next job, and it’s something he’s been helping his assistant with.

“I think the positive for him in being here with us right now is that I had to do it twice,” Sarkisian added. “I did it when I was at USC and I took the head job at Washington in ’09. I stayed at USC to coach the Rose Bowl for that month of December. When I got the job here, I stayed at Alabama for another ten days or whatever it was, to finish that national championship season, before I came on board here. So he’s got somebody there who’s done it. Who’s lived it. I think again, compartmentalizing is the best way to go about it.

“When you’re here, and your feet are on the ground here, we’re game-planning and we’re in meetings and we’re at practice, you’re focused on those players. Coach Choate understands the value of that. The commitment that it takes, in helping those guys win a championship. He wants to win a championship. … He’s committed to that. When he walks out those doors, he’s right back on the phone, trying to hire a staff, trying to recruit for Nevada. … I know he’s doing a great job for us right now, but I know he’s getting a lot of work done for them at the same time.”

Steve Sarkisian is sad to see Jeff Choate go, but he has nothing but admiration for his assistant. He’ll be hoping to go out on a high note, as a national champion with the Longhorns.