Steve Sarkisian’s Confidence in Will Muschamp Signals a Clear Shift for Texas Football
When Steve Sarkisian stepped to the podium this week to talk about Will Muschamp’s addition to the Texas coaching staff, it wasn’t just about a new defensive coordinator. It was a window into Sark’s vision for the Longhorns moving forward-and a pretty telling one at that.
After parting ways with Pete Kwiatkowski, Sarkisian didn’t dance around the decision. He was direct, confident, and maybe most importantly, honest about why Muschamp was the guy he’s been waiting on.
“I feel very comfortable with Will being the head coach of that defense,” Sarkisian said. “That frees me up a little bit more time from an offensive perspective. Instead of robbing Peter to pay Paul, I'm able to let him go do his thing on defense and really be a great leader over there and head coach over there, which allows me to get back to doing the things that I believe that I'm really good at.”
That quote says a lot. First, it tells you just how much trust Sarkisian has in Muschamp-not just as a defensive mind, but as a leader.
Calling him the “head coach of the defense” isn’t just a throwaway line. It’s a clear delegation of authority.
Sarkisian is handing over the keys to half the program, and he’s doing it with conviction.
Second, it’s a reminder of what Sarkisian sees as his own strength: offense. And let’s be real-there were moments this past season when fans and media alike were questioning whether Sark still had the magic touch as a play caller. Some of the decisions in key moments early in the year raised eyebrows, especially when Texas stalled on third downs or dialed up questionable plays in tight situations.
Those concerns even made their way into press conferences, where Sark was asked point-blank if he’d ever consider giving up play-calling duties. His answer?
“No, because that's why I got hired. I was a really good offensive coordinator.”
That’s the kind of response that can either ignite confidence or raise the stakes, depending on how things play out. But now, with Muschamp running the defense, Sarkisian is setting himself up to fully embrace that offensive identity again in 2026. He’s betting on himself-and Muschamp is the piece that allows him to do it.
What’s even more interesting is that this move has been in Sark’s back pocket for a while. He revealed that he’s had his eye on Muschamp since 2021, when he first arrived in Austin. The timing wasn’t right back then-Muschamp had family commitments, including his son’s high school football career-but Sark stayed patient.
“It wasn't the right time to go further down that road,” Sark said. “Timing was just a little better for him now.”
That kind of long-term planning speaks volumes. Sarkisian didn’t just make a reactionary hire.
This was calculated. He waited four years for the right moment to bring in a coach he clearly believes in-and now that the stars have aligned, he’s not wasting any time putting Muschamp in charge of the defense.
For Texas fans, there’s a lot to unpack here. Pete Kwiatkowski helped shape a defense that had its moments, and he deserves credit for that.
But Muschamp brings something different-an edge, a presence, and a personality that can energize the defensive side of the ball. He’s been around the SEC wars, he’s led programs, and he knows how to command a unit.
This hire isn’t just about X’s and O’s. It’s about identity.
Sarkisian is doubling down on what he does best-offense-while giving Muschamp full autonomy to mold the defense in his image. That kind of clarity in roles could be exactly what Texas needs as it gears up for a pivotal 2026 season.
In the end, Sarkisian’s comments weren’t just coach-speak. They were a clear message: trust in the plan, trust in the people, and trust that the Longhorns are building something with purpose.