Steve Sarkisian’s coaching staff is beginning to take shape just three days after he was hired.
According to FootballScoop, former Longhorns player Blake Gideon is expected to join the staff at Texas. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and Fox Sports is also reporting that Gideon is “likely” to work with safeties and special teams in Austin.
Since leaving Texas in 2011 and the NFL in 2013, Gideon has been involved with four SEC schools. His highest position came in 2015 with Auburn when he was promoted from a graduate assistant role to coaching defensive backs.
Gideon was praised for his work at Houston in 2019 as the special team’s coach and was hired by Lane Kiffin when he accepted the job at Ole Miss. He will be leaving the Rebels to come back to his alma mater.
Western Carolina (2016-2018) and Georgia State (2018) are two other schools Gideon has been a defensive backs coach. Playing safety during his time at Texas, he will be coaching the position he starred in.
Blake Gideon is leaving Ole Miss to join Steve Sarkisian's staff at Texas, sources tell @FootballScoop.https://t.co/6joIEZYchb
— Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) January 5, 2021
This is the first hiring move Sarkisian has made on the defensive side of the ball. There have been multiple names involved as to who could be the defensive coordinator, including Chris Ash, Will Muschamp, and Barry Odom.
More outside names will be considered for Sarkisian’s offensive staff. Mike Yurcich announced he would be leaving on Monday afternoon. Running back’s coach Stan Drayton is the only offensive coach expected to be retained.
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