Report: Sacramento State working to hire UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion as head coach

The Go-Go offense is heading to the FCS level. Sacramento State is working to hire UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion as its next head coach, according to a report from CBS Sports.

Marion spent the last two years as the offensive coordinator at UNLV, where he put his Go-Go scheme on full display as the rebels won 19 games. He’s viewed as a rising star in the coaching ranks after working his way up the ladder, with stops at Pitt and Texas before his time in Las Vegas.

Under Marion’s watch, UNLV ranked among the best offenses in the Mountain West. The Rebels averaged 412.7 yards in his first year in 2023 – up from 352.4 in 2022 – and increased that number to 425.8 yards this past season. UNLV made a run to the Mountain West Championship before Barry Odom left for Purdue.

Odom’s departure led to questions about what would be next for Marion. It turns out, a head coaching opportunity is in his future at the FCS level at Sacramento State, although the school is working to change that.

Sacramento State’s search for a new football coach began earlier this month when Andy Thompson stepped down to take a position on Troy Taylor’s staff at Stanford. The Hornets also reportedly spoke with former NFL star Michael Vick about its head coach opening before he accepted the job at Norfolk State.

Sacramento State has been making a push to jump to the FBS level from the Big Sky Conference. Specifically, a group has been trying to get the Hornets into the Pac-12, raising NIL funds in the process.

In September, the school announced plans for a new multi-use football stadium, and the NIL efforts also saw a surge. Local business, community leaders and a local tribe gathered together to raise $35 million in NIL funds, the SAC12 committee announced at the time. The organization later announced it surpassed its $50 million goal, however, reports say that figure is contingent on a bid to the Pac-12 or another FBS conference.