“He will be greatly missed” — Texas HC Steve Sarkisian mourns the loss of beloved Longhorns member

It was a sad day for Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns, who are mourning the loss of Lt. Wayne Coffey. Described as "a valuable member of our Longhorn Football Family," Coffey was often by Sarkisian's side as part of his security detail. The Longhorns coach penned a heartfelt letter on Instagram to honor the former NFL player.

​

​

"With the passing of Lt. Wayne Coffey, we lost a great man, a loyal supporter, and a dedicated member of the UT Austin Community," Sarkisian wrote. "He was by my side for every game — home and away — and many other events from my first day at Texas until his retirement this season."

Coffey, who played one season with the New England Patriots in the NFL, was a beloved figure in the Longhorns community. Sarkisian said:

​

​

"Our players and staff absolutely loved Lt. Coffey. He was such a valuable member of our Longhorn Football Family and always a joy to be around. He will be greatly missed, and our fond memories of him will never be forgotten. I'm sending my most sincere condolences and love to his wife and family at this time."

Born in 1964, Coffey played for several Arena Football League teams during his football career, including the Denver Dynamite and the Miami Hooters.

Steve Sarkisian talks continuous adaptation in college football

Longhorns coach is preparing for the changing landscape of college football with a potential new athlete compensation model. According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the proposed model would limit teams to an 85-man roster, potentially eliminating all walk-on players.

Steve Sarkisian shared his thoughts at the SEC spring meetings on Tuesday, saying:

​

​

"The challenge of that is adjusting. We’re in this era of college football where we have to continually adapt. From the moment I got this job at Texas, we were still almost operating under the old ways."

Changes like the transfer portal, NIL, conference realignment and a new settlement model have significantly impacted the traditional style of college football.

​

​

“There’s talk of potential roster size being reduced. But through it all, you have to adapt," Sarkisian stated. [00:40]

​

Steve Sarkisian has 35 walk-ons on his team. If the proposed rules are implemented, these players would no longer be on the roster.

​