Why Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is overrated

By Chat GPT

Steve Sarkisian was hired as the head coach of the Texas Longhorns football team in January 2021, after spending time as the offensive coordinator at Alabama. While Sarkisian has had some success as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator, his overall track record as a head coach has been lackluster at best. Here are a few reasons why Steve Sarkisian may be overrated as a head coach:

Underwhelming Record as a Head Coach
Sarkisian's record as a head coach is far from impressive. In his five seasons as the head coach of the Washington Huskies, he compiled a record of just 34-29, with a 24-21 record in conference play. While he did lead the Huskies to a bowl game in each of his last two seasons, he failed to win a conference championship or reach a major bowl game during his tenure. His time as the head coach at USC was even worse, as he was fired mid-season in 2015 after a 3-2 start. Overall, Sarkisian's career record as a head coach is just 46-35, a winning percentage of just 56.8%.

Struggles with Alcoholism
Sarkisian's struggles with alcoholism are well-documented, and he has admitted to being under the influence while coaching games in the past. While he has reportedly sought treatment and is currently sober, his past struggles with addiction could raise concerns about his ability to lead a program and make sound decisions under pressure.

Offensive Focus, Defensive Weakness
Sarkisian has made a name for himself as an offensive guru, but his teams have often struggled on the defensive side of the ball. During his time at Washington, his defenses ranked in the bottom half of the conference in total defense and scoring defense in three of his five seasons. At USC, his defenses ranked outside of the top 60 nationally in total defense and scoring defense in both 2013 and 2014. While offense is certainly important in today's game, a team cannot win consistently without a solid defense.

Mixed Results as an Offensive Coordinator
While Sarkisian has had some success as an offensive coordinator, his results have been mixed at best. During his time at Alabama, he oversaw one of the most explosive offenses in college football, but it's worth noting that he inherited an offense that was already loaded with talent. In his two seasons as the offensive coordinator at USC, his offenses were good but not great, and the team struggled to a 9-4 record in 2014. While he did have some success as the offensive coordinator at Washington, his offenses were often one-dimensional and lacked balance.

In conclusion, while Steve Sarkisian may have had some success as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator, his overall track record as a head coach leaves a lot to be desired. His struggles with alcoholism, offensive focus, defensive weakness, and mixed results as an offensive coordinator are all causes for concern. While it's certainly possible that he could turn things around at Texas, it's also possible that he may be overrated as a head coach. Only time will tell if he can live up to the expectations placed upon him in Austin.