Steve Sarkisian’s thorough search for a defensive coordinator appears to be over.
Shortly after Sarkisian was hired, reports led Texas fans to believe that the leading candidates to become the defensive coordinator were Mississippi State’s Zach Arnett or Alabama’s Pete Golding.
In a dramatic turn of events on Monday night, it was reported that Washington defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski would join Sarkisian’s staff in the same role.
Kwiatkowski has developed one of the top defenses on the west coast over the past seven seasons with Washington and he owned the No. 1 defense in the Pac-12 in five of the past six seasons.
The Huskies longtime assistant coach was considered a lock to remain with Washington for the foreseeable future, but Texas can easily make him one of the highest-paid assistants in all of college football.
Player development has been lacking at Texas and Kwiatkowski has proven to churn out NFL talent. Since 2014, ten different defenders from Washington were selected in the first or second round of the NFL Draft. Texas has produced just one during that span.
Washington fans appear saddened by the shocking news, while Texas fans are ecstatic to witness Sarkisian’s staff materialize. Take a look at the best social media reactions on the next page.