Steve Sarkisian goes in depth on his process of building, maintaining culture at Texas

Steve Sarkisian knows culture can’t be grown in a Petri dish. During a conversation with FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt, the Texas head coach revealed how his teams develop strong cultures.

“Culture is organic,” Sarkisian said. “It’s not something that you list out in a team meeting. I think it naturally occurs. Every family dynamic has its own culture. I think that starts at the top. How are your parents? How were you raised? What is leadership?

“What is the example that we give to the culture that we want as coaches, that the players now can look to and say, ‘Hey, that is something I want to emulate. That is somebody I want to be like. That is somebody I want to shape my life toward.'”

Texas’ culture worked wonders last season. The Longhorns finished the 2024 campaign with a 12-2 overall record and an 8-1 mark in conference play. Led by Sarkisian, the program won the Big 12 for the first time since 2009 and made its first ever appearance in the College Football Playoff.

With numerous returning pieces, including starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, Texas hopes to reach even greater heights in the upcoming season. Sarkisian knows how vital culture is to the program’s success.

“I was telling the group last year at the end of the year—not only did they buy into our idea of the culture, I felt like the leaders on that team last year, elevated it,” Sarkisian said. “We went to another space that I didn’t know a college football team could go.

“I think that’s why you make those plays in games because guys count on one another because they had an opportunity to get vulnerable and get to know one another.”

Steve Sarkisian has a tall task ahead of him

Sarkisian will need his players to make plenty of big plays in the upcoming season. The Longhorns’ first season in the SEC will be a gauntlet, including matchups against Oklahoma and Georgia. Not to mention, Texas will face off against Michigan in Week 2.

Sarkisian is embracing the challenge. After all, has been preparing for these obstacles since he took over at Texas in 2021.

“When I took the job and I was meeting with Chris Del Conte and Jay Hartzell, our president, what is needed and how are you gonna build it, and you talk about your plan. I said then, we’re gonna have to build a roster that can compete and ultimately beat Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame – because those are in those Final Four games,” Sarkisian said on SiriusXM College. “And that’s the goal at Texas is to win the national championship.”