Mack Brown Strongly Believes Steve Sarkisian Holds a Special Coaching Advantage Capable of Elevating Texas Longhorns Back Into National Prominence
When Mack Brown speaks about Texas football, people still listen. The former Longhorns head coach, who guided the program to a national championship in 2005 and a BCS title game appearance in 2009, remains one of the most respected voices in college football. Brown, now the head coach at North Carolina, recently offered his perspective on the state of the Texas Longhorns under Steve Sarkisian. His comments carried the weight of experience, history, and a deep understanding of what it takes to sustain greatness at a place like Texas. According to Brown, Sarkisian has something rare—a special advantage that could put Texas back at the forefront of college football.
Brown’s words struck a chord because he understands both the promise and the pressure that come with coaching in Austin. He has been in Sarkisian’s shoes, leading the Longhorns through the highs of national titles and the lows of rebuilding years. What he sees in Sarkisian is more than just another head coach trying to turn things around. Instead, Brown believes Sarkisian possesses a combination of offensive innovation, recruiting strength, and leadership qualities that uniquely position him to elevate Texas to levels fans have been craving since the golden era of the mid-2000s.
At the heart of Sarkisian’s advantage, Brown says, is his offensive mind. Sarkisian has long been regarded as one of the best play-callers in college football. His ability to design schemes that maximize the talent on the field has been evident throughout his career, from his time as offensive coordinator at USC, to his tenure with Alabama where he helped guide the Crimson Tide to a national title, and now at Texas where his system has allowed quarterbacks to thrive. For a program like Texas, which has always attracted high-level skill position talent, having a coach who knows how to unleash that potential is invaluable. Brown pointed out that Sarkisian’s schemes are not just about creativity but about adaptability. He tailors his offense to his personnel rather than forcing players into rigid systems, and that flexibility is a massive advantage in modern college football.
But Brown didn’t stop at the X’s and O’s. He believes Sarkisian’s recruiting advantage is just as significant. Texas is one of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country, but history shows that simply being located in the Lone Star State doesn’t guarantee success. Coaches must have the right vision, charisma, and organizational structure to consistently lock down top prospects. Sarkisian has proven that he can recruit at a national level, pulling in blue-chip talent not only from Texas but across the country. Brown noted that the combination of Sarkisian’s offensive system, the tradition of Texas football, and the allure of the SEC (now that Texas has joined the conference) creates a recruiting recipe that few programs can match. In Brown’s eyes, that is a “special advantage” no other coach in America quite has.
Equally important is Sarkisian’s ability to navigate the modern landscape of college football. NIL, the transfer portal, and conference realignment have changed the way programs are built. Brown acknowledged that while many coaches have struggled to adapt, Sarkisian seems to embrace the changes rather than resist them. His willingness to connect with players, help them understand their brand value, and balance the business side of today’s game with traditional team culture gives him an edge. Brown sees that as crucial because it shows that Sarkisian isn’t just coaching the way the game used to be played—he’s coaching for the game as it is now and as it will be in the future.
Another key point Brown emphasized is Sarkisian’s growth as a leader. Sarkisian’s career has not been a straight line to success. He has faced personal and professional setbacks, most notably his difficult exit from USC. But rather than being defined by those challenges, Sarkisian has rebuilt himself and emerged stronger. Brown respects that resilience. He knows firsthand that being head coach at Texas requires more than football knowledge—it requires emotional intelligence, humility, and a steadiness in the face of relentless scrutiny. Sarkisian, in Brown’s view, has developed those qualities over time, and that makes him uniquely equipped to handle the immense expectations in Austin.
Brown also made it clear that timing matters. Texas football is entering a pivotal era. The move to the SEC brings both opportunity and pressure. The conference is the toughest in the country, and Longhorns fans are hungry for their team to not just compete but dominate. Brown argued that Sarkisian has Texas positioned at the right time, with strong recruiting classes, stability in the coaching staff, and momentum from recent success. The program isn’t just on the rise—it’s poised for a breakthrough. That alignment of talent, leadership, and timing is, in Brown’s eyes, a special advantage that can separate Texas from the rest.
Beyond the technical aspects, Brown spoke about culture. During his tenure at Texas, one of his greatest achievements was creating a culture where players felt like part of a family while still being pushed to their limits. He believes Sarkisian is doing something similar. Players buy into his system because they feel he cares about them as people, not just athletes. That, Brown said, is something fans don’t always see but players feel deeply. It creates loyalty, trust, and unity—intangibles that often decide games as much as strategy or talent.
It is not lost on Brown that expectations in Austin are sky-high. He understands that Longhorns fans want national championships, not just good seasons. He has been on the receiving end of both praise and criticism when those goals were or weren’t met. That’s why his belief in Sarkisian carries weight. He isn’t simply offering empty optimism. He is saying that based on his long experience in the sport and at Texas, Sarkisian has the rare combination of skills and circumstances to actually deliver on those expectations. To Brown, that doesn’t mean guaranteed titles, but it does mean Texas finally has the right man in charge at the right time.
When Brown reflected on his own journey with the Longhorns, he acknowledged that it took time to build something sustainable. He sees parallels with Sarkisian’s tenure. The first seasons were about laying a foundation, instilling belief, and shaping a vision. Now, Sarkisian has that foundation, and the program is ready to chase the highest goals. Brown insisted that patience and perspective are essential, but he also admitted that the excitement around Texas feels different now, more authentic and more sustainable. That excitement, he believes, stems from Sarkisian’s leadership.
Fans may wonder what exactly Brown meant by “special advantage.” To put it simply, he sees Sarkisian as having the rare alignment of scheme, recruiting power, adaptability, and personal growth, combined with the unmatched resources and brand of Texas football. No other program has quite the same mixture. While many schools boast strong recruiting or innovative coaches, Texas under Sarkisian has both, and with the timing of the SEC move, it feels like a perfect storm. For Brown, that makes Sarkisian’s position one that no one else in the country can duplicate.
The coming seasons will ultimately determine if Brown’s belief is justified. College football is a results-driven business, and for Texas, that means competing for championships. But hearing one of the most successful coaches in Texas history endorse Sarkisian so strongly is telling. It reflects not only optimism but respect. Brown doesn’t hand out praise lightly, especially for someone tasked with carrying the same torch he once did. That endorsement alone should fuel excitement among Longhorns fans who are eager to believe this time is different.
In the end, Mack Brown’s perspective offers something more than just analysis—it offers validation. Texas fans have seen false dawns before, but when the man who once delivered glory to Austin says Sarkisian has a unique advantage, it resonates. It suggests that Texas football may truly be on the cusp of returning to where it belongs: competing for national titles, feared by opponents, and celebrated by its massive fan base. Sarkisian still has work to do, but with Mack Brown’s blessing, there is a sense that the program is not only headed in the right direction but may also have the right leader to make the climb back to the very top.
