Late on Thursday evening, the honeymoon period for new Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian came to an abrupt end when news surfaced from Tuscaloosa that Alabama Crimson Tide analyst Mike Stoops, the former Oklahoma Sooners defensive coordinator, was set to become the new linebackers coach for the Longhorns.
Hours later, Sarkisian reversed course, telling Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman that he hoped to hire another linebackers coach on Friday.
A Friday press release announcing the other nine assistant coaches, as well as Director of Football Performance Torre Becton, only increased speculation that Sarkisian’s staff was finalized until it wasn’t.