Sarkisian’s Reckoning: RB Coach Chad Scott Dismissed Amid Deepening Staff and Roster Shake-Up

The offseason in Austin has quickly become a period of upheaval for Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns. Following a regular season that fell short of College Football Playoff expectations, the anticipated “shuffling” of personnel has deepened with the dismissal of Running Backs Coach Chad Scott.

Scott’s departure, coming after just one season on the job, is the most impactful coaching change in a recent flurry of exits from the Forty Acres, sending a clear and decisive message from Steve Sarkisian about the accountability required to compete for national championships in the SEC.

The Accountability Test: Chad Scott’s Dismissal

Chad Scott was hired prior to the 2025 season to replace the well-regarded Tashard Choice. His tenure in Austin was brief and ultimately defined by the struggles of the Longhorns’ ground game:

• Statistical Decline: The Texas running game suffered its worst statistical season since 1944. The team averaged a pedestrian 129.7 rushing yards per game, ranking around 101st nationally and a concerning 10th in the 16-team SEC. This mark was nearly 30 yards per game fewer than the previous season.

• The Inconsistency Problem: The running back room failed to produce a consistent 100-yard rusher all season, hindering Sarkisian’s mandate for an effective, balanced offense built around the passing abilities of quarterback Arch Manning.

• The Short Leash: Scott’s quick dismissal after just one year shows that Sarkisian is operating with an extremely short leash and zero tolerance for significant underperformance. The Longhorns are no longer building; they are expected to contend, and the rushing offense was a glaring weakness that needed an immediate fix.

The move is seen as an aggressive, necessary act of accountability from Sarkisian, who wants to revamp the identity of the entire rushing attack to prevent a repeat of 2025’s inefficiency.

The Domino Effect: A Staff and Personnel Exodus

Scott’s exit is the most notable, but it is part of a broader shake-up involving both assistant coaches and key support staff members, demonstrating a significant pivot in Sarkisian’s operational philosophy:

1. Analyst Exodus to North Texas

In a peculiar set of departures, several key analysts and support staffers followed former Texas special assistant Neal Brown to the North Texas Mean Green, where Brown was recently hired as the new head coach:

• Director of Scouting Errin Joe: Joe, who was instrumental in the Longhorns’ 2026 recruiting class, departed to take on the General Manager role at North Texas.

• Analyst Tyler Allen: Allen, a highly-regarded young offensive mind, is set to become North Texas’ quarterbacks coach, rejoining his colleague Neal Brown.

While these support staff departures are often framed as “promotions” for the departing staff, the sheer volume of personnel following an analyst (Brown) suggests a significant structural change in Sarkisian’s ecosystem.

2. The Transfer Portal Turmoil

The coaching changes are occurring simultaneously with a painful roster shake-up via the NCAA Transfer Portal:

• CJ Baxter (RB): The former five-star recruit and key running back entered the portal, adding further urgency to the running back coach search.

• Jerrick Gibson (RB): Gibson, who struggled with ball security issues, also entered the portal.

• Other Departures: The Longhorns also saw exits from players like cornerback Santana Wilson and wide receiver Aaron Butler, revealing Sarkisian’s willingness to part ways with players who haven’t established a firm spot in the two-deep depth chart.

The Path Forward: Finding the Next Running Back Guru

The running back coach position now becomes one of the most crucial hires of the offseason. This hire is complicated by the need for a coach who can immediately do two things:

1. Recruit: Secure high-level talent, whether through the transfer portal (like potential target Jabbar Juluke’s interest in bringing transfer back Jadan Baugh) or the 2027 high school class.

2. Develop: Fix the technical issues that plagued the running back room in 2025, ensuring that Texas’s rushing attack achieves the efficiency needed to balance the offense in the SEC.

Scott’s dismissal is a clear sign that Steve Sarkisian is prepared to be ruthless in his pursuit of a national title, leaving no room for positional units that underperform in the high-stakes environment of the expanded College Football Playoff era. The message is loud and clear: change is happening now to ensure the Longhorns are prepared for 2026.