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Garrett Today
By the People, for the People
Texas Longhorns Hire Mark Stoops as Special Assistant to Steve Sarkisian
Stoops joins a growing list of experienced assistants brought in to bolster the Longhorns' coaching staff.
Apr. 12, 2026 at 10:39pm
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The hiring of former Kentucky coach Mark Stoops as a special assistant at Texas signals the Longhorns' bold strategy to leverage veteran expertise in pursuit of a College Football Playoff berth.Garrett TodayIn a surprising move, the University of Texas has hired former Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops as a special assistant to head coach Steve Sarkisian. Stoops, who was recently fired from Kentucky despite being the program's all-time wins leader, will join a growing list of experienced assistants brought in by Sarkisian as the Longhorns aim for a College Football Playoff run in 2026.
Why it matters
The hiring of Stoops, along with several other former assistant coaches, signals Texas's commitment to assembling a star-studded coaching staff to compete at the highest level. However, there are questions about whether this influx of experienced personnel will lead to cohesion issues within the program.
The details
Stoops will join the Longhorns in a role similar to those held by former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst and ex-TCU head coach Gary Patterson, both of whom were brought on as special assistants. Stoops, a longtime defensive backs coach and coordinator, is highly respected in the coaching community and has a strong relationship with new Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. In addition to Stoops, Sarkisian has hired several former assistant coaches as analysts, including Steve Casula (formerly of Michigan), JB Brown (also from Michigan), and Billy Gonzales (formerly of Florida).
- In April 2026, Texas hired Mark Stoops as a special assistant to head coach Steve Sarkisian.
- Stoops was recently fired from his head coaching position at the University of Kentucky, where he was the program's all-time wins leader with a record of 72-80.
The players
Mark Stoops
A former head coach at the University of Kentucky, where he was the program's all-time wins leader with a record of 72-80. Stoops has extensive experience as a defensive backs coach and coordinator, with stops at South Florida, Wyoming, Houston, Miami (Florida), Arizona, and Florida State before taking the Kentucky job in 2013.
Steve Sarkisian
The current head coach of the University of Texas Longhorns, who has been on a hiring spree to assemble a star-studded coaching staff in preparation for a potential College Football Playoff run in 2026.
Will Muschamp
The new defensive coordinator for the University of Texas, who is said to have a strong relationship with incoming special assistant Mark Stoops.
What’s next
The success of this hiring strategy will be closely watched as the Longhorns prepare for the 2026 season, with questions about whether the influx of experienced personnel will lead to cohesion issues within the program.
The takeaway
Texas's commitment to assembling a star-studded coaching staff, led by the hiring of former Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, signals the program's determination to compete at the highest level. However, the move raises questions about whether the Longhorns are overloading on experience at the risk of team cohesion.
