The Texas Longhorns continue to reshape their coaching staff this offseason, and the latest move sees special teams senior analyst Chris Forestier heading to Tulane. It's another piece of the puzzle moving on as Steve Sarkisian retools his staff heading into a pivotal stretch for the program.
Forestier is set to join the Green Wave as their special teams coordinator under new head coach Will Hall. For Forestier, it’s a homecoming-he hinted at the move himself on social media, expressing excitement about returning "back home in the boot," a clear nod to his Louisiana roots.
While this isn’t the kind of headline-grabbing shift that comes with a coordinator hire, it’s still a meaningful change. Forestier worked closely with Texas special teams coordinator Jeff Banks throughout the 2025 season, and now he’s stepping into a lead role-moving from behind-the-scenes support to running the entire special teams unit for the reigning AAC champions. That’s the kind of upward mobility that analysts across the country dream about.
For Texas, it’s another domino in a series of staff changes that have followed the end of the regular season. Running backs coach Chad Scott was let go, replaced by Jabbar Juluke.
Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and defensive pass game coordinator Duane Akina are both out, with veteran coach Will Muschamp stepping in to lead the defense. Now, the special teams group is the latest to feel the ripple effects.
Forestier’s departure comes after a season where Texas special teams lived in extremes-flashing game-breaking brilliance one week, then unraveling in critical moments the next.
On the highlight reel side, freshman Ryan Niblett emerged as a star-in-the-making. He added his name to the growing list of Sarkisian-era playmakers capable of flipping a game in a single touch-joining the likes of Xavier Worthy, Keilan Robinson, and Silas Bolden.
Niblett returned two punts for touchdowns in massive moments: a 75-yarder against No. 6 Oklahoma that gave Texas a 20-6 fourth-quarter lead, and a 79-yard return against Mississippi State that tied the game at 38 with under two minutes left.
Texas would go on to win that one in overtime.
Niblett finished the regular season with 19 punt returns for 448 yards-third-most in the nation-and was one of just five players across college football to notch multiple punt return touchdowns. That’s elite company, and a credit to the special teams operation Texas had in place.
But it wasn’t all fireworks and field-flipping plays. The Longhorns had their share of miscues too, and one in particular stands out.
In a 35-10 loss at Georgia on Nov. 15, the Bulldogs pulled off a surprise onside kick after trimming the lead to 21-10 in the fourth quarter. Texas wasn’t ready.
Georgia recovered, and just like that, any hopes of a comeback vanished. It was a momentum swing that underscored the fine margins in special teams execution-and how quickly things can unravel when attention to detail slips.
Now with Forestier moving on, Sarkisian has a decision to make. Does he bring in a direct replacement, or shuffle responsibilities among the remaining staff?
For now, Jeff Banks remains in place as special teams coordinator, and the immediate focus shifts to preparing for the Citrus Bowl against Michigan on Dec. 31.
The coaching carousel keeps spinning in Austin, and while the big names draw the headlines, it’s the behind-the-scenes roles-like Forestier’s-that often make the difference in tight games. Texas has the talent to compete at the highest level. The challenge now is making sure the staff changes don’t lead to cracks in the foundation.