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Texas Coach Overcomes Heart Surgery to Lead Longhorns to Success
29 Jul
Summary
- Steve Sarkisian underwent open-heart surgery in 2020 while at Alabama
- Sarkisian devised game plans and plays during his post-surgery walks
- Texas faces high expectations for a 12-win season in 2025 despite roster turnover
In 2020, just before the start of the season, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian underwent a major heart operation after a routine physical revealed a critical health issue. While serving as the offensive coordinator at Alabama, Sarkisian was diagnosed with an aneurysm and a leaky heart valve, requiring immediate surgery.
After a successful recovery, Sarkisian was advised to take up less strenuous exercise, leading him to start taking regular walks around the Texas facility. These walks proved to be more than just physical activity, as Sarkisian used the time to devise game plans and strategize, including a trick play that was used in the 2023 Big 12 Championship game.
Now heading into the 2025 season, Sarkisian and the Longhorns face high expectations despite losing over 14 veteran players to the NFL and the transfer portal. However, the coach remains unfazed, confident that the team's top talent, led by quarterback Arch Manning, will propel them to a 12-win campaign.
