Texas Longhorns Coaching Hires and Promotions for the 2025 Season: An In-Depth Overview

As the University of Texas continues to elevate its athletic programs to new heights, the 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal in recent memory. The Longhorns are not only preparing to compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), one of the toughest conferences in collegiate athletics, but they are also undergoing significant coaching changes aimed at refining the programs across multiple sports. This year’s hires and promotions are part of a larger strategic effort to revitalize teams, build on past successes, and address areas in need of improvement. Let’s dive into the details of the coaching changes in several key sports, including football, baseball, women’s basketball, and men’s basketball.

Football Coaching Staff Changes

Under the leadership of head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Texas Longhorns football program has been undergoing a significant transformation. With aspirations to lead the team to prominence in the SEC, the 2025 season is expected to see substantial changes to the coaching staff, as well as key hires and promotions.

Departures:

The Longhorns saw several coaches leave the program, each contributing in different ways during their tenures.

• Blake Gideon: After serving as the safeties coach for the Longhorns, Gideon moved on to accept the position of defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech. Gideon had worked with some of the program’s best defensive players, but his departure marked a shift in the team’s defensive strategy heading into the 2025 season.
• Terry Joseph: The defensive backs coach for several seasons, Joseph left to take on the role of defensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints. His departure leaves a gap in the secondary, a critical area of the Longhorns’ defense that will need to be addressed in the coming months.
• Tashard Choice: The running backs coach for Texas, Choice’s departure to become the Detroit Lions’ running backs coach comes as a surprise to some, but it’s an opportunity for him to work at the professional level. His exit, however, raises questions about how the Longhorns will handle their ground game moving forward.

New Hires and Promotions:

The 2025 season brings in a number of fresh faces and internal promotions, signaling a bold new direction for the Longhorns’ football team. These hires are designed to address gaps in critical positions while also infusing the team with experienced leadership.

• Neal Brown: A former head coach at West Virginia University, Brown joins Texas as an assistant coach. Known for his offensive acumen, Brown brings a wealth of knowledge to the program, particularly in terms of game planning and offensive playcalling. His experience will be invaluable in refining the Longhorns’ offensive scheme as they prepare for the more competitive SEC.
• Chad Scott: Coming from West Virginia, Scott was hired as the new running backs coach. He takes over a talented group of running backs, and his experience working with some of the best backs in the Big 12 will be critical as he looks to develop the Longhorns’ running game further.
• Duane Akina: One of the most experienced coaches in college football, Akina returns to Texas from Arizona to coach the defensive backs. Akina has been widely regarded as one of the best at developing defensive backs, and his return to Texas is expected to pay immediate dividends, especially in a new SEC environment.
• LaAllan Clark: Clark comes to Texas from Ohio State, where he worked with the team’s linebackers. His promotion to outside linebackers coach at Texas is seen as a crucial move in building the team’s defensive front. Texas is looking for a coach who can bring the best out of its linebackers, and Clark’s experience is seen as a valuable asset.
• Mark Orphey: Orphey joins the coaching staff from Rutgers as the new safeties coach. With his extensive background in coaching the secondary, Orphey will work to enhance the safety positions and improve the team’s pass defense.

The strategic mix of experienced coaches and fresh talent is a calculated approach by Sarkisian, and it reflects the larger vision of turning Texas into a powerhouse capable of competing at the highest level in the SEC.

Baseball Coaching Changes

The University of Texas baseball program has seen a shake-up following the 2024 season. After an underwhelming year in which the team failed to capture a national title, there was a clear need for change in the coaching staff. These shifts are intended to refocus the program on its long-term success in the SEC.

Departure:

• David Pierce: After eight seasons without securing a national title, Pierce was let go as head coach of the Texas baseball team. His tenure had been marked by several strong seasons, but the lack of postseason success ultimately led to his dismissal. His departure opened the door for a new leadership style to take charge of the team.

New Hires:

• Jim Schlossnagle: The former head coach at Texas A&M, Schlossnagle is one of the most respected names in college baseball. His hiring is seen as a bold move by the university to revitalize the program and push it back into contention for national titles. Schlossnagle is known for his ability to develop talent and build strong, competitive teams, and his leadership will be key in the team’s transition to SEC competition.
• Nolan Cain: Cain, a former coach at LSU, is brought in as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. His ability to recruit elite talent will be critical as Texas looks to compete in the SEC, and his track record of success at LSU is expected to boost the team’s recruiting efforts significantly.
• Max Weiner: Weiner joins as the assistant coach in charge of pitching. With a proven ability to develop elite pitchers, Weiner will focus on improving the Longhorns’ pitching staff, which has been inconsistent in recent years. His experience will help elevate the team’s pitching performance and make them more competitive in the highly demanding SEC.

With these coaching changes, the Texas baseball program is poised to enter a new era of competitiveness, building toward future championships under Schlossnagle’s leadership.

Women’s Basketball Coaching Changes

The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball program continues to be one of the most successful in the nation. Under the direction of head coach Vic Schaefer, the team has consistently performed at a high level. To ensure continued success, the coaching staff underwent a promotion within its ranks.

Promotion:

• Blair Schaefer: Schaefer, a former assistant coach, was promoted within the team. Her promotion is part of Schaefer’s vision to build consistency and maintain the team’s competitive edge. With the team’s success under Schaefer’s watch, including clinching the SEC regular-season title, Schaefer’s promotion is seen as a reward for her contributions.

The Longhorns women’s basketball team will likely remain one of the most formidable programs in the SEC, and Schaefer’s continued role in the coaching staff ensures the program’s future success.

Men’s Basketball Coaching Changes

The Texas men’s basketball program, which has had its fair share of highs and lows, is also facing a season of uncertainty heading into 2025. The team’s future will be shaped by the current coaching staff, and changes are on the horizon based on the team’s performance in the 2024 season.

Challenges Ahead:

• Rodney Terry’s Future: After a disappointing loss to Georgia, many questions have arisen about the future of head coach Rodney Terry. While the Longhorns have a storied history in basketball, Terry’s position with the team has been called into question after the team’s inconsistent performance. The university may consider making changes depending on the results of the remainder of the season.

Despite these uncertainties, the Longhorns’ basketball program remains an important focal point of the athletic department, and decisions regarding the coaching staff will likely be made with the future success of the program in mind.

Strategic Vision and Future Outlook

The 2025 season for the Texas Longhorns represents a moment of significant transition. The coaching changes across football, baseball, and basketball are all part of a deliberate effort to reshape the programs in preparation for future success. These strategic moves demonstrate the university’s commitment to competing at the highest level, particularly as the Longhorns prepare for their move to the SEC.

With experienced coaches being brought in and internal promotions designed to retain institutional knowledge, Texas is poised for a bright future across multiple sports. The coming seasons will be critical in determining whether these changes can yield the desired results, both in terms of team performance and overall program success.

As the Longhorns continue to build on their proud legacy, the coaching changes made for the 2025 season are a signal of the university’s determination to remain competitive in one of the most challenging conferences in collegiate athletics.