Tag: texas coaching staff

Wish list to replace Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate

Texas’ linebacker coach position could be highly sought after among college defensive coaches.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is now hiring for a new linebacker’s coach and potential co-defensive coordinator alongside Pete Kwiatkowski. Given the talent present on the roster and the Longhorns’ involvement in the College Football Playoff, the role should be highly sought after in the coaching profession.

Texas fans want Gary Patterson after seeing how much the Texas defense improved with Patterson as a special assistant. The likelihood is, however, that Patterson is more interested in head coaching positions than roles underneath a defensive coordinator.

Other former big name head coaches have drawn the attention of fans on social media. Names like former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops and former Texas head coach Charlie Strong have been brought up by Texas faithful. Albeit, Texas donors don’t want Stoops and understandable pride could keep Strong from taking an assistant role at Texas.

While we won’t rule out those moves, let’s look at a few more options Texas might turn to at linebacker’s coach and potential co-defensive coordinator.

The difference between general talent and Texas’ developed talent

Phil Steele’s position rankings have everything to do with development and proven on-field play.

We have a winner for the most tired phrase of the offseason: Texas is always the most talented. Following Phil Steele’s position rankings reveal, its the only line to which naysayers can turn.

Texas always has the talent. It’s the cover of truth surrounding a false premise. When discussing what the team returns from last year, talent isn’t really even the point.

The most notable takeaway some have from the read was that despite being the No. 1 ranked team at every position by Phil Steele, Texas always has the talent. I can’t recall Texas being ranked first at every position group before, although it could have happened. The point is, the proven talent across the board is not normal for Texas. It usually is squandered, as borne out by past coaching regimes. The Longhorns have matchup problems, not just talent.

The reality is, the Longhorns are being ranked by the players that have already played well on the field, not just the ones with five-star recruiting ratings. And the team has far more proven players than any other Big 12 squad.

One could argue the team’s best player is former three-star linebacker Jaylan Ford. That’s not recruiting ranking talent. That’s simply a well developed player. He’s one of many on the roster.

Fan Nation’s Killer Frogs shared some other fan favorites of Texas outsiders’ favorite lines. Among the other curious talking points was that Texas big money donors will somehow have a hand in the Longhorns’ on-field product this season. It’s unclear how that will supposedly occur. That talking point is almost always vague and without any tangible substance.

Texas is set to make a statement. It’s not because it is a five-star recruiting machine, but because assistant coaches Kyle Flood, Terry Joseph, Jeff Choate and Jeff Banks have made it a player development machine. There’s a difference between talent and developed talent. It should be evident in the on-field product this season.

Looking at Texas assistants’ best developed players in Austin

Kyle Flood gave us Kelvin Banks, Jeff Banks gave us Ja’Tavion Sanders.

Texas football coaches are developing players for the first time in awhile. While in past regimes talented players slipped through the cracks undeveloped, this staff is maximizing the talent on campus.

We’ve detailed the progress made by the program in this respect, but haven’t necessarily broken down in depth what each coach has accomplished. When you look at each position group, there are plenty of positive takeaways.

Offensive line coach Kyle Flood and tight ends/special teams coach Jeff Banks were brought in from Alabama to help transform the Texas roster. They have already done that and more producing NFL draft first round caliber players early on in their tenure.

Among coaches that have been on campus since head coach Steve Sarkisian’s first season, here’s a look at each coach’s best example of development.

Texas assistant Gary Patterson shuts down rumors about the Nebraska job

Gary Patterson is not going anywhere at the moment.

Rumors have been swirling about Texas assistant coach Gary Patterson being a candidate for the Nebraska head coaching position.

The former TCU head coach quickly shut down any speculation tying him to the Nebraska job. Patterson took to Twitter on Tuesday night to reaffirm his commitment to Steve Sarkisian and this Texas team.

Patterson is one of the more accomplished coaches in college football. He took TCU to new heights and changed the expectations of the program for the better during his time in Fort Worth. Patterson is TCU’s all-time wins leader and even has a statue built of him outside their stadium.

Expect Patterson to receive some interest from new opportunities this offseason as the coaching carousel begins to heat up. Still, he remains focused on helping Texas finish the season on a high note.

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Three Texas support staffers included on On3’s rising coaches to know

John Dozier Dean, Ray Pickering and Henry Fernandez are highly respected.

Second-year head coach Steve Sarkisian has put together a strong coaching staff at Texas. Continue reading “Three Texas support staffers included on On3’s rising coaches to know”

Jordan Whittington, Bijan Robinson rave about new Texas coaches

The players seem to enjoy the young, energetic presence of Tashard Choice and Brennan Marion.

Bijan Robinson, Jordan Whittington and Keondre Coburn each spoke with the media following Thursday’s spring practice. Continue reading “Jordan Whittington, Bijan Robinson rave about new Texas coaches”

College football fans react to Gary Patterson in Texas gear, joining staff

Some never thought they’d see the day, others are rejoicing.

While the school has not announced anything official on the matter, Horns247 is reporting that former TCU head coach Gary Patterson has already joined the Texas staff.

Patterson was spotted at the Texas-Kansas State game in Austin on Tuesday evening wearing a Longhorns polo. He was sitting next to Texas athletics director Chris Del Conte, which all but confirmed his hiring.

The rumors of Patterson joining the Texas staff in some capacity have been running rampant over the last couple months, but when the school posted a new job opportunity labeled as the special assistant to the head coach on Jan. 9, it seemed to be connected to Patterson’s future role with the program.

Horns247’s report on Wednesday does indicate that Patterson will serve as the special assistant to Steve Sarkisian. He is expected to assist with overall practice and game day preparation, statistical analysis, and video analysis of opposing teams.

Witnessing Patterson in Texas gear is not something college football fans were prepared to see. Take a look at some of the best reactions via Twitter:

Players, fans react to Texas moving on from wide receivers coach Andre Coleman

Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and others react to Texas not retaining wide receivers coach Andre Coleman.

Reports began to surface on Sunday evening that Texas would not be retaining wide receivers coach Andre Coleman.

Of the two coaches that were retained from Tom Herman’s previous staff, neither will be with the program for the 2022 season. Running backs coach Stan Drayton accepted the head coach job at Temple, and Steve Sarkisian is now choosing to part ways with Coleman.

It wasn’t surprising news to some, as it was clear that Texas needed a more established recruiter at that particular position group moving forward. The player development on the field wasn’t enough to balance out the recruiting struggles.

The Longhorns have only signed one wide receiver in the 2022 class, four-star Brenen Thompson. Texas missed out on five-star wide receiver Evan Stewart, which could very well have been the straw that broke the camel’s back in terms of Coleman’s future in Austin.

Shortly after reports surfaced of Coleman no longer being a part of the staff, players and fans expressed their thoughts and well wishes via social media.

Report: Gary Patterson expected to meet with Pete Kwiatkowski on Thursday

Gary Patterson is expected to meet with Pete Kwiatkowski about a potential role at Texas.

Texas’ defense has the opportunity to add another great defensive mind to its staff. Continue reading “Report: Gary Patterson expected to meet with Pete Kwiatkowski on Thursday”