Jeff Choate named one of 20 assistants college administrators are high on as head coach candidates
Assistants being associated with head coaching opportunities is an indicator of the quality of a coaching staff, and a member of Steve Sarkisian‘s current staff is thought to be next up with having his name associated with leading a program.
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On3’s Matt Zenitz identified Texas co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Choate as one of 20 college football assistants that administrators are high on as head coach candidates. The group of coaches is made up of current assistants that haven’t been a Power Five head coach in the past.
Choate has already experienced success as a head coach at the FCS level and has now continued to be a person of interest for head coaching opportunities at the FBS (and even Power Five) level. With Choate as its head coach, Montana State improved from 4-7 in 2016 to 5-6 in 2017 to 8-5 in 2018 and to 11-4 and a No. 4 national ranking in the FCS in 2019 prior to him leaving to be part of Steve Sarkisian’s staff at Texas.
Under Choate, Montana State advanced to the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs in both 2018 and ’19. At Texas, he’s been part of helping the Longhorns improve to No. 1 in the Big 12 in scoring defense against conference opponents last season after ranking No. 7 in 2021 and eighth in both 2019 and ’20. Choate has also coached linebackers at Texas such as 2023 NFL third-round draft pick DeMarvion Overshown and 2023 Big 12 preseason defensive player of the Year Jaylan Ford.
Matt Zenitz
Prior to leading the Montana State program, Choate had assistant coaching gigs at Washington (along with current Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski), Florida, Washington State, Boise State, Eastern Illinois, and Utah State. He held several head coaching gigs at high schools in Idaho following a playing career at Montana Western.
Choate has leveraged nationwide connections on the recruiting trail, something Inside Texas’ Jake Langi identified in June.
“Choate is a chameleon recruiter who can fit into any culture and atmosphere because he is truly mindful of others, how they live, and how they operate,” Langi wrote.
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That recruiting ability helped Texas sign a linebacker class in 2023 consisting of Anthony Hill, Liona Lefau, and S’Maje Burrell. Those achievements are in addition to his aforementioned developmental exploits with star pupils like Overshown and Ford.
Considering his ties to the Pacific Northwest, schools in that region might be interested in Choate. His newfound ties to Texas could also keep him within the Lone Star State.
Either way, Choate is a coach the industry believes could return to the head coaching ranks, this time at the Power Five level.
