Four-Year Review Reveals Texas Longhorns Football Coaching Staff’s Growth, Culture Shift, and Pursuit of Championship-Caliber Consistency in the SEC
When Steve Sarkisian was hired in January 2021 to lead the Texas Longhorns football program, the move was met with cautious optimism. Fresh off a national championship as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Sarkisian brought with him the promise of modernized offense, a professionalized culture, and SEC-ready recruiting. Four seasons later, the results of his tenure — and that of his assembled staff — tell a story of evolution, growing pains, strategic success, and a program now positioned to compete at the highest level.
The early years weren’t easy. Sarkisian inherited a program long plagued by inconsistency, identity confusion, and internal dysfunction. In 2021, Texas finished a disappointing 5-7, losing six straight games — a stretch that tested the credibility and resolve of the new regime. But rather than panic, Sarkisian doubled down on his vision: culture before wins, development before flash, and recruiting with a purpose. That foundation was crucial, and while it took time to bear fruit, it now defines the character of the team entering the 2025 season.
The most notable success over these four years has been staff stability and alignment. Whereas past Texas coaches often shuffled assistants and altered schemes season to season, Sarkisian prioritized building a cohesive coaching unit. Key hires like Kyle Flood (offensive line), Jeff Banks (special teams and tight ends), and Pete Kwiatkowski (defensive coordinator) have remained in place through critical seasons. That consistency has helped build trust within the locker room and created a sense of continuity rarely seen in the Texas program since the Mack Brown era.
Kyle Flood has arguably had the biggest impact of any assistant on the Texas staff. Tasked with rebuilding the offensive line from the ground up, Flood has not only developed players at a high level but has also recruited better than any O-line coach Texas has had in over a decade. He landed back-to-back elite classes, including five-star tackles and blue-chip interior linemen, and has steadily transformed what was once a glaring weakness into a strength capable of competing in the SEC. His development of players like Kelvin Banks Jr. into All-American talents is a testament to his coaching chops and long-term vision.
On the defensive side, Pete Kwiatkowski’s journey has been one of slow but deliberate improvement. His scheme — based on multiple fronts, zone-heavy coverage, and an emphasis on containment — initially frustrated fans who expected more aggression and sacks. But the staff’s emphasis on gap discipline, communication, and assignment football has led to year-over-year growth. The 2023 and 2024 units were statistically among the best in the Big 12 and held their own against top-tier competition. With the program now officially in the SEC, Kwiatkowski’s defense appears more prepared than ever to handle the physical and explosive offenses that dominate the conference.
Jeff Banks, a former Alabama assistant known for his special teams excellence and tight end development, has proven his value over and over. His special teams units have consistently been among the best in the nation, flipping field position and even scoring critical touchdowns in close games. He’s also helped turn Texas’ tight ends into legitimate weapons — most notably Ja’Tavion Sanders, who blossomed into one of the top receiving tight ends in the country. Banks’ role in recruiting, especially in the state of Texas and the West Coast, cannot be understated either.
Recruiting, in fact, may be the defining achievement of the Sarkisian era to date. The Longhorns have stacked blue-chip classes since 2022, landing key prospects across the board and finally closing the talent gap with the likes of Alabama, Georgia, and LSU. The 2023 class included quarterback Arch Manning, arguably the most high-profile recruit in a decade, and the 2024 and 2025 classes have added elite pass rushers, offensive linemen, and defensive backs. Sarkisian’s ability to sell a vision — and back it up with staff development and a clear identity — has given Texas national recruiting pull that it lacked in the post-Mack Brown years.
Another factor in the staff’s success is their player development model. Sarkisian, along with strength coach Torre Becton, overhauled the Longhorns’ physical and mental preparation strategies. Nutrition, recovery, and mental performance have become major points of emphasis. The results are clear: fewer injuries, stronger fourth-quarter performances, and a more mature, mentally locked-in roster. It’s one of the under-the-radar changes that has helped Texas close out tight games and survive the attrition of a full season — especially in 2023 and 2024, where close wins became a signature of the program’s rise.
Sarkisian has also proven himself a capable CEO, something critics weren’t sure he could handle after his troubled past and brief head coaching stint at USC. But he has shown measured leadership, publicly defending his players and staff while holding them accountable internally. He’s weathered the storm of intense media scrutiny, fan pressure, and early losses by maintaining a steady hand. The locker room has bought into his message, and veteran leaders consistently credit the staff’s honesty and structure as key reasons for Texas’ turnaround.
Over the four-year span, Texas has gone from a team fighting to stay relevant in the Big 12 to one expected to contend in the SEC. The 2023 season was the turning point — a 12-win campaign that ended with a Sugar Bowl appearance and proved the Longhorns could compete with the nation’s elite. That season set the standard moving forward and validated the methods of the coaching staff. The 2024 season added another double-digit win tally, building even more momentum heading into the 2025 SEC gauntlet.
From a tactical standpoint, Sarkisian’s offensive mind remains one of the most respected in the country. His use of motion, spacing, and matchup creation has helped multiple quarterbacks flourish, including Quinn Ewers, who went from inconsistent early performances to becoming one of the SEC’s most efficient passers. Sark’s willingness to adjust — whether it was running the ball more behind a dominant line or leaning on his tight ends when injuries hit the receiver room — has shown maturity and humility.
Of course, no coaching staff is perfect, and Texas has had its share of missteps. Clock management and red zone efficiency have been periodic issues. There have been questions about in-game adjustments, particularly on defense. But unlike past Texas regimes that seemed stuck in their ways, Sarkisian’s staff has shown a willingness to self-scout and make necessary changes. That adaptability is key in today’s ever-changing college football landscape, especially with NIL and the transfer portal reshaping rosters yearly.
Looking ahead, the next challenge for this coaching staff is not just reaching the top — but staying there. The SEC demands excellence week in and week out. Depth, discipline, and durability matter as much as raw talent. Sarkisian’s staff has built a strong foundation, but maintaining success requires relentless energy, continued recruiting wins, and internal competition. Every assistant must keep developing, every player must keep improving, and the culture must remain hungry.
Still, the four-year review of the Texas Longhorns coaching staff reveals a clear upward trajectory. They’ve earned the respect of their peers, the trust of their players, and the attention of the college football world. The infrastructure is solid. The staff is unified. And most importantly, the belief inside the building is real. Texas football is no longer chasing relevance — it’s chasing championships.
As the 2025 season begins, Sarkisian and his staff stand at the edge of what could be a defining era for Texas football. And while results on the field will ultimately determine how they are remembered, their four-year journey has already reshaped the program — and put the Longhorns right where they believe they belong: back in the national spotlight, with their eyes on the top.
