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News has continued to emerge about potential candidates to fill new Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian’s staff in Austin less than a day after Sarkisian was officially announced as the program’s 31st head coach. Here’s a running list of updates on staff changes and expected staff changes.
Staff changes
| Tom Herman's staff | Position | Status | Steve Sarkisan's staff (projected) | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Herman's staff | Position | Status | Steve Sarkisan's staff (projected) | Position | Status |
| Mike Yurcich | OC | Likely dismissal | Kyle Flood | OL/OC | Expected |
| Stan Drayton | RB | Retained | AJ Milwee | QB | Expected |
| Andre Coleman | WR | Unknown | Stan Drayton | RB | Retained |
| Jay Boulware | TE/ST | Dismissed | Holmon Wiggins | WR | Target |
| Herb Hand | OL | Dismissed | ? | TE | ? |
| Chris Ash | DC | Unknown | Zach Arnett | DC/LB | Target |
| Chris Hagen | DL | Likely dismissal | Bo Davis | DL | Expected |
| Oscar Giles | DL | Likely dismissal | LB | ||
| Coleman Hutzler | LB | Unknown | Blake Gideon | S/ST | Expected |
| Jay Valai | CB | Unknown | Corey Raymond | CB | Target |
| Yancy McKnight | S&C | Dismissed | Torre Becton | S&C | Expected |
Some initial names connected to Sarkisian are Alabama offensive line coach and former Florida and South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp, who served as the Texas defensive coordinator and head coach in waiting before taking the job in Gainesville.
On Sunday a report emerged that there’s interest in Director of Recruiting Bryan Carrington from multiple Power Five programs.
If Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian wants to retain Bryan Carrington, director of recruiting, he may need to act fast.
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) January 3, 2021
His agent said there are at least five programs interested in him. Mostly P5 schools. One program wants to groom him as coach, which is why he has an agent
Carrington has already received public support from multiple current and former players.
There’s also now a coach connected to the wide receiver position, according to FootballScoop.com — Alabama’s Holmon Wiggins, who has worked with Sarkisian for the last two years in Tuscaloosa. A running back at New Mexico during his playing career, Wiggins spent seven years with Justin Fuente at Memphis and then Virginia Tech before he was hired by Nick Saban at Alabama.
Wiggins isn’t known as a recruiting rainmaker — he served as a secondary recruiter for highly-rated wide receivers who signed in the 2021 class like Jacorey Brooks and JoJo Earle — but the evidence of his ability to develop players has been on display this season as Devonta Smith emerged as a Heisman contender.
At Virginia Tech, he helped Cam Phillips become the program’s career leader in receptions and receiving yards.
Sunday update 1:45 a.m. Central
.@InsideTexas has learned running backs coach Stan Drayton is expected to remain in Austin. #HookEm https://t.co/sgRJxfcIKl
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) January 3, 2021
Sarkisian may keep at least one of Tom Herman’s assistants with Sunday’s news about Drayton, who also holds the titles of associate head coach and run game coordinator in addition to coaching running backs. Originally one of the most high-profile hires on Herman’s initial staff when Drayton returned to college football after two years with the Chicago Bears.
Landing signatures from Keaontay Ingram, the state’s top running back in 2018, and Bijan Robinson, the nation’s top running back in 2020, speak to his recruiting bona fides. And although Drayton often comes under criticism for his frequent rotations at running back, Robinson’s strong finish to his freshman season was also a sign that the plan worked.
Monday 1:15 p.m. Central
Will Muschamp turns down offer to return to Texas as defensive coordinator, Barry Odom on short list - https://t.co/Do0GY2YbwU https://t.co/ESfHIdSbK2
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) January 4, 2021
Will Muschamp reportedly will not reprise his role as Texas defensive coordinator.
As Sarkisian decides whether to retain current defensive coordinator Chris Ash, current Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom is a candidate, according to Dodds. Odom’s stint as the Missouri head coach was unsuccessful after replacing Gary Pinkel, but his record as a defensive coordinator is strong.
Monday 1:15 p.m. Central
Keep an eye out for Alabama OL/former Rutgers HC Kyle Flood as a candidate for Texas OC job and Alabama analyst A.J. Milwee as a potential quarterback coach.
— Kirk Bohls (@kbohls) January 4, 2021
The buzz around Flood continues. With Sarkisian expected to have a large role in the offense, hiring an offensive coordinator who also coaches the offensive line would allow Sarkisian to hire a dedicated quarterbacks coach in Milwee, who was named Arkansas State offensive coordinator last week.
Monday 2:30 p.m. Central
Source: Texas strength coach Yancy McKnight has been informed he's been dismissed from the school.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 4, 2021
Monday 3:15 p.m Central
From the Hand family to the men who we have been honored to work with in Austin...Thank y’all.
— Herb Hand (@CoachHand) January 4, 2021
We love you and are so appreciative for all you gave to our UNIT, the team and The University of Texas.
You ALL have greatness in your future...proud to count you among “my guys”. pic.twitter.com/Rqo8CR4lyN
Monday 3:30 p.m. Central
A new name for the defensive staff is now out. According to FootballScoop.com, Sarkisian has been in contact with Houston associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Doug Belk, who was a graduate assistant at Alabama during Sarkisian’s year as an offensive analyst. In 2017, Belk joined the West Virginia staff and followed Dana Holgorsen to Houston.
Monday 5:00 p.m. Central
Sources: #Texas TE coach and special teams coordinator Jay Boulware not expected to return to #Longhorns. https://t.co/xV709xRoB3 pic.twitter.com/eC2R7V3hZO
— Horns247 (@Horns247) January 4, 2021
After one year at Texas, the Longhorns alum isn’t expected to return as it appears that Sarkisian could turn over his entire offensive staff beyond Drayton. The tight ends coach in particular is a position where Sarkisian may opt for a more accomplished recruiter.
Tuesday 3:50 p.m. Central
CBSSSports.com reports that Mississippi State defensive coordinator Zach Arnett is a candidate for the same position at Texas. A 34-year old, Arnett is considered a rising star in the coaching industry after only spending one season with the Bulldogs. Arnett played his college football at New Mexico and started his coaching career under defensive guru Rocky Long at San Diego State, where Arnett spent nine years before heading to Starkville.
Tuesday 4:50 p.m. Central
Former Texas safety Blake Gideon is expected to return to Austin as a member of Steve Sarkisian’s staff. Since it’s anticipated that Gideon will coach safeties, that means that Chris Ash is unlikely to return as defensive coordinator — he doesn’t have any experience coaching a position other than the secondary.
Tuesday 6:25 p.m. Central
Hey @CoachSamPittman, did we get some great news today regarding @Coach_Odom? #OneRazorback #RunItBack pic.twitter.com/ewEE6VfwrA
— Hunter Yurachek (@HunterYurachek) January 5, 2021
It looks like Barry Odom is remaining as the defensive coordinator at Arkansas.
Tuesday 8:00 p.m Central
Stay Tuned, @TexasFootball! #AllGasNoBrakes @CoachSark pic.twitter.com/KgAIt3zeZb
— Stan Drayton (@StanDraytonUT) January 6, 2021
This tweet from Drayton supports reports on Sunday that he’ll remain the running backs coach under Steve Sarkisian.
Wednesday 1:55 p.m. Central
Alabama offensive line coach Kyle Flood is expected to join the Texas staff, likely adding the title of offensive coordinator, according to Chip Brown of Horns247.
Wednesday 3:55 p.m. Central
Source: Cal S&C coach Torre Becton expected to join Steve Sarkisian's #Texas staff. https://t.co/J4WBWTwNiW pic.twitter.com/BvPreDe9KQ
— Horns247 (@Horns247) January 6, 2021
Becton has spent the last four seasons under former Sarkisian assistant Justin Wilcox at Cal. Before taking over the strength and conditioning program for the Golden Bears, Becton was on Sarkisian’s Huskies staff as an assistant strength and conditioning approach. He continued to hold that role when Chris Petersen took over the Washington program. In 2016, Becton spent a year at USC as the associate head strength and conditioning coach.
A North Carolina native, Becton played at North Carolina AT&T State and had three different stints in the Big 12 — Oklahoma State, Baylor, and Iowa State — before spending a year in the NFL with the Houston Texans.
Wednesday 10:48 p.m. Central
Sources: #Texas is expected to hire #Cal strength and conditioning coach Torre Becton for the same role. Becton has spent the past four seasons at Cal. He worked for Steve Sarkisian at Washington from 2011 to 2013. @Horns247 first reported the move.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 7, 2021
Some confirmation of the earlier report.
Wednesday 2:30 p.m. Central
Source: Detroit Lions DL coach Bo Davis expected to join #Texas staff. https://t.co/dgnxDku4vX pic.twitter.com/OqTTAWKAwx
— Horns247 (@Horns247) January 7, 2021
It looks like Bo Davis will return for a second stint at Texas after coaching the defensive line under Mack Brown from 2011-13. Davis came to Austin for the first time after spending four seasons under Nick Saban at Alabama and then return to Tuscalooosa for two seasons after Brown was fired. However, Davis was forced to resign after he lied about making out-of-state recruiting visits during an impermissible period.
Since then, he’s been attempting to resurrect his coaching career, spending a season as an intern with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a season at UTSA, and three years with the Detroit Lions.
Davis has a strong reputation as a recruiter, especially in the state of Texas, landing five-star cornerback Kendall Sheffield at Alabama in the 2015 recruiting class, as well as No. 1 inside linebacker Ben Davis in the 2016 recruiting class.
The expected hire of Davis likely means that Tosh Lupoi will remain in the NFL.
Thursday 2:30 p.m. Central
According to FootballScoop.com, LSU cornerbacks coach/recruiting coordinator Corey Raymond has emerged as a target for Texas “with a very strong offer” from Sarkisian. Raymond made $575,000 in 2020, but the turnover on the LSU defensive coaching staff firing the termination of Bo Pelini after one season and a raise could be enough to entice Raymond to join Sarkisian’s staff. Raymond has a strong reputation as a recruiter and would be likely to maintain his title of recruiting coordinator with the Longhorns.