Steve Sarkisian avoids massive loss as NFL fails to poach Texas' 2024 Coach of the Year Award winner
The Texas Longhorns have seen a flurry of staff departures this offseason after Steve Sarkisian had his program back in the College Football Playoff for the second-straight season. There's no greater nod to success than losing top assistants, but retaining the best coaches is also a key development. Sarkisian was able to retain strength and […]
The Texas Longhorns have seen a flurry of staff departures this offseason after Steve Sarkisian had his program back in the College Football Playoff for the second-straight season. There's no greater nod to success than losing top assistants, but retaining the best coaches is also a key development.
Sarkisian was able to retain strength and conditioning coach Torre Becton from bolting to the NFL with a new contract extension. Anwar Richardson of Orange Bloods first reported the league's interest in his services.
Team success leads to individual recognition at the coaching level, as evidenced by the recent departures of two assistants. Safeties coach Blake Gideon has left his alma mater to become the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech.
Meanwhile, Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice was persuaded by the Detroit Lions to take on the same role with them, after Sarkisian initially managed to ward off interest from the Dallas Cowboys and other NFL teams. This move reunites Choice with Jahmyr Gibbs, the player he had recruited to Georgia Tech.
Becton has a long-standing relationship with Sarkisian, having been hired by him as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Washington in 2010 after coming from South Carolina State. When Sarkisian moved to Austin, he brought Becton with him from Cal, where Becton had spent the past four seasons.
This established connection, along with a contract extension, played a significant role in Becton’s decision to remain in Austin. Sarkisian has ensured continuity in one of the most vital components of the Texas program.
Even though coaches are allowed to spend more time in organized activities during the offseason, no one engages with the players more than Becton and his team. Outside of the 15 spring practices, the strength and conditioning coaches will have the most significant influence on the team as they prepare for the 2025 preseason camp.
“I think what Coach Becton and our strength and conditioning staff do in summer conditioning is we push our guys and the second half of our workouts are always the hardest part of the workouts,” Sarkisian said after the win over Michigan last fall. “When we practice in spring ball, when we practice in training camp, the hardest part of our practice is at the end, because we try to instill in them that we need to be at our best, when our best is needed, even though it’s at it’s hardest moment.”
Becton was recognized as the FootballScoop Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year for his contributions to the 2024 team, which competed in the SEC Championship and aimed for a spot in the national championship game, concluding the season with a 13-3 record.
