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The rapid ascent of former Texas Longhorns safety Blake Gideon in the coaching world continued on Wednesday with multiple reports that the Ole Miss Rebels special teams coordinator will join Steve Sarkisian’s staff, most likely as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator.
SOURCE: #OleMiss STC Blake Gideon is expected to return to #Texas, joining Steve Sarkisian's new staff. The former #UT standout is likely to coach safeties and work with special teams at his alma mater. @zach_barnett first reported the move.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 5, 2021
Gideon was a four-year starter and two-time team captain at Texas and began his coaching career as a defensive quality control assistant at Florida in 2014 with Will Muschamp before following Muschamp to Auburn the following year as a defensive graduate assistant.
His first stop as a coach was at Western Carolina, then Georgia State, and then Houston, where Gideon’s special teams units blocked five punts and six kicks in 2019. The strong performance helped Gideon earn a spot on Lane Kiffin’s staff in Oxford.
Hiring Gideon likely means that Sarkisian will not retain defensive coordinator Chris Ash, who was hired last year by former head coach Tom Herman and coaches safeties in addition to his coordinator duties.