Longhorns Hire Arizona DC Johnny Nansen as LBs Coach

Texas Longhorns linebackers coach Jeff Choate was recently hired as the head coach of the Nevada Wolfpack. Now, it appears a replacement has been found in Arizona defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen.

Texas Longhorns linebackers coach Jeff Choate was recently hired as the head coach of the Nevada Wolfpack. 

But now, it appears the Longhorns have found his replacement.

Per an announcement from the team, the Longhorns hired Arizona Wildcats defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen to be the team's next linebackers coach.  

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Nansen worked with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian as an assistant at Washington while Sark was the head coach. The pair then joined the USC staff together in 2014. 

Nansen was at the center of an impressive turnaround season for Arizona. The Wildcats finished the 2023 campaign with a thrilling 38-24 win over No. 12 Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday night, as his defense forced six turnovers. 

After trailing 24-13 midway through the third quarter, Arizona scored 25 unanswered to pull off the win. Nansen’s defense took an 87-yard fumble recovery to the house at the end of the third quarter. 

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Sarkisian is no doubt disappointed to be losing Choate but admitted he’s “fired up” for him. 

"As far as Coach Choate, first of all, I’m so fired up for him,” Sarkisian told the media. “He took a little bit of a leap of faith when he came here... To come here as a linebacker/co-defensive coordinator, was a little bit of a leap of faith, looking for something that could be even better in return. Making the investment that he did."

Nansen meanwhile, will have a wealth of talent to work with once he gets to Austin, with young up-and-coming prospects like Anthony Hill, S'Maje Burrell, Liona Lefau, and Derion Gullett, as well as incoming freshman Tyanthony Smith, and veteran David Gbenda all on the roster next season.