Texas Football Targeting Former West Virginia Head Coach for Steve Sarkisian’s 2025 Staff
In a bold move signaling its intent to contend for a national championship in 2025, Texas football is reportedly targeting former West Virginia head coach Neal Brown to join head coach Steve Sarkisian’s staff. While Brown’s tenure in Morgantown had its ups and downs, his tactical acumen, offensive innovation, and leadership experience make him an intriguing addition to a Longhorns team on the rise.
Sources close to the Texas program indicate that Sarkisian is considering Brown for a high-level offensive advisory role or possibly as an assistant head coach — a position that would allow him to lend his experience in game planning, situational football, and player development. With Sarkisian already recognized for his offensive genius, bringing in Brown could create one of the most intellectually potent coaching duos in college football.
Brown, who served as head coach at West Virginia from 2019 to 2023, amassed a record of 29-30. While his overall record was just below .500, it belies the context of a program in transition and the significant progress made under his guidance, especially in player development and recruiting. Brown’s 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes featured several players who blossomed into NFL-caliber talent, and his offenses showed marked improvement in scoring and efficiency.
His earlier success at Troy, where he led the Trojans to three consecutive 10-win seasons and a historic upset of LSU in Baton Rouge, cemented his reputation as a program-builder and innovative thinker. Texas, now a full-fledged member of the SEC beginning in 2024, may view Brown’s experience navigating both Power Five and Group of Five challenges as vital in adjusting to the week-in, week-out grind of college football’s toughest conference.
For Sarkisian, entering his fifth year at the helm of the Longhorns, the addition of a former head coach signals a maturation of the program’s strategic structure. After leading Texas to the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2024, Sarkisian has emphasized the need to bolster the support around him. With offensive coordinator Kyle Flood potentially entertaining NFL offers and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski rumored to be a head coaching candidate elsewhere, adding a proven football mind like Brown could be a move of preemptive stability.
Fans in Austin have expressed cautious optimism. Some see Brown’s inclusion as a masterstroke — a steady hand who can support Sarkisian behind the scenes without disrupting the existing culture. Others are more skeptical, recalling West Virginia’s struggles against top-tier programs during Brown’s tenure. However, insiders emphasize that this potential hire is about synergy, not salvation. Sarkisian remains the architect; Brown would be a specialist in execution and detail.
With spring practice just months away and the 2025 recruiting cycle heating up, Texas appears intent on assembling the deepest, most versatile staff in the SEC. Whether Neal Brown dons the burnt orange or not, the message is clear: Texas is not just back — it’s building to stay.
