Texas Longhorns Coaching Overhaul: Retentions, new hires, and departures reshape the program
As Paul Wadlington explained, elite programs have to replace players and coaches on an almost yearly basis. Texas will have to replace a significant amount of core members of teams that went to back-to-back semifinals in the College Football Playoff, including starting quarterback Quinn Ewers and 13 others that are on their way to the NFL Combine this week. Steve Sarkisian has also had to replace a number of key assistant coaches, with Terry Joseph decision to join the New Orleans Saints creating the newest vacancy on his staff.
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The Longhorns had been able to avoid major departures from the assistant coaching staff during Sarkisian’s first three years, but Texas’ success attracted the attention of other college programs and NFL franchises after two seasons with a 25-5 record. It’s lead to a different looking staff as the 2025 season becomes more visible on the distant horizon, but there have been some key retentions as well.
Both secondary coaches depart
Two coaches who were essential parts of Texas’ rise to the No. 3 total defense and the No. 2 passing efficiency defense will be wearing other colors for the 2025 football season. Safeties coach Blake Gideon, who guided Michael Taaffe to second-team All-America honors, decided to leave his alma mater in order to take the vacant defensive coordinator position at Georgia Tech. It will be Gideon’s first time calling plays as a defensive coordinator following several years of coordinating special teams at different stops.
Joseph, who had recently been named safeties coach title in addition to his defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach titles, creates a second vacancy on the defensive side of things after he joined Kellen Moore‘s New Orleans Saints staff on Monday. Joseph was a big part of the consensus All-America and Thorpe Award-winning season from Jahdae Barron in 2024.
The Longhorns recently announced as official the hire of Mark Orphey from Rutgers. Orphey was given the title of corners coach, but it remains to be seen if he will keep that responsibility now that Texas needs a replacement for Joseph.
Tashard Choice heads to Detroit
Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice had a brief dalliance with the Dallas Cowboys, a franchise he spent four seasons with during his playing career, but elected not to join Brian Schottenheimer‘s staff. That didn’t mean he was staying in Austin.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell offered Choice the running backs coach role, reuniting Choice with his one-time Georgia Tech protege in Jahmyr Gibbs. Campbell, who has a staff filled with ex-professionals, looked toward Texas to replace Scottie Montgomery. Montgomery remained in Detroit but moved to wide receivers coach after Antwaan Randle El left with Ben Johnson to take positions with the Bears.
Sarkisian tabbed West Virginia running backs coach Chad Scott to replace Choice. A coach who had been with former WVU head coach Neal Brown for a considerable amount of time dating back to when both were on staff at Texas Tech, Scott had been retained by newly-hired Mountaineers head coach Rich Rodriguez but left for the opportunity to coach backs like Quintrevion Wisner, CJ Baxter, Jerrick Gibson, and several other backs Choice left in Austin.
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Important coaches remain in Austin
The rest of Sarkisian’s assistant staff remained in tact, including Pete Kwiatkowski, Kyle Flood, Jeff Banks, Chris Jackson, Johnny Nansen, Kenny Baker, and AJ Milwee. But one of the most important retentions was not an on-field assistant.
Texas strength and conditioning coach Torre Becton was courted by the NFL but elected to remain with the Longhorn football program. Becton, who has been Texas’ strength and conditioning coach since Sarkisian was hired in 2021, has been critical both on and off the field in the Longhorns’ rise to the elite tier of college football.
In addition to the retentions, there were a number of coaches who were added to the support and personnel staff that were officially announced by the program last week.
Keynodo Hudson, who previously was an analyst coaching defense, replaced Scottie Hazelton as nickels coach. The Longhorns hired LaAllen Clark away from a grad assistant role at Ohio State. At Texas, Clark has the title of EDGE coach.
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Sarkisian has work to do in hiring a new secondary coach, but he made a number of major additions and kept several important coaches in Austin for what will be his fifth season leading the Longhorns.
