Texas Enlists Mark Stoops as Special Assistant to Boost Sarkisian's Defense
Texas has hired former Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops as a special assistant under Steve Sarkisian, with expectations he’ll help the defense ahead of the 2026 season. Stoops, who went 82-80 over 13 years in Lexington and will receive a multi-year buyout reported over $37 million, brings a defensive background dating to his DB coaching days. Texas has also reshuffled its defensive staff, moving Pete Kwiatkowski from DC, hiring Will Muschamp as the new defensive coordinator, and bringing Blake Gideon back as passing game coordinator/DB coach, signaling a stronger defensive focus for 2026.
