Stephanie Sarkisian is an educator and the ex-wife of Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian. She spent 18 years supporting his coaching career while building her own path in education. The couple divorced in 2015 and shares three children: Ashley, Taylor, and Brady.
Who Is Stephanie Sarkisian?
Stephanie Sarkisian is a teacher and school administrator who became known primarily through her marriage to college football coach Steve Sarkisian. While her ex-husband’s career put her in the public eye, she has consistently chosen privacy over publicity.
She built a career in education spanning multiple states and school systems. Her work focused on elementary education and special education support, roles that require patience and adaptability.
You won’t find Stephanie on social media or giving interviews. She has maintained this stance throughout Steve’s coaching career and after their 2015 divorce. This approach stands in contrast to the typical visibility of coaching spouses in modern college football culture.
Early Life and Cultural Background
Stephanie was born in 1975, though sources differ on specific details. She is of Japanese-American heritage, and her family emphasized education and hard work.
She attended West High School, where she met Steve Sarkisian. Some sources claim they met in high school, while others say they connected at the University of Southern California. The exact timeline remains unclear due to limited verified information.
What is clear is that Stephanie’s upbringing instilled values that shaped her adult life. Her focus on education, family, and privacy reflects the principles she learned growing up.
Education and Career in Teaching
Stephanie earned her degree in elementary education, graduating in 1998, according to some reports. She later pursued additional credentials through USC and UCLA, focusing on education administration.
Her teaching career began in Washington state. She worked at elementary schools, including Maplewood and Lakeview, taking on both general education and special education roles. Special education requires specialized training and a different skill set, working with students who need additional support.
When Steve’s coaching career required moves, Stephanie continued teaching. She worked in public and private schools across Washington and Southern California. Each relocation meant finding new positions, adapting to different school systems, and establishing new professional relationships.
After her divorce, Stephanie returned to Washington with her children. Reports indicate she currently holds a position at a private school in Seattle, though her specific role is not publicly confirmed.
Marriage to Steve Sarkisian
Stephanie and Steve married in 1997. At the time, Steve was transitioning from his playing career to coaching. Stephanie supported this shift while pursuing her own teaching career.
Steve Sarkisian is now the head coach at the University of Texas, but his career took him through multiple programs. He coached at USC (2014-2015), the University of Washington (2009-2013), and served as offensive coordinator at Alabama before taking the Texas position in 2021.
Life as a Coaching Spouse
Being married to a college football coach means accepting a demanding lifestyle. Coaches work 80-100-hour workweeks during the season. They travel for recruiting and games. Job security is never guaranteed.
The Sarkisian family relocated multiple times as Steve’s career progressed. Each move meant new schools for the children, new communities to join, and new professional environments for Stephanie.
Public scrutiny comes with the territory. Coaching families face media attention, fan criticism, and constant evaluation based on win-loss records. Stephanie experienced this directly during Steve’s tenure at USC, which ended with his firing in 2015 following alcohol-related issues that led to his rehab and recovery.
Managing these pressures while maintaining her own career and raising three children required significant resilience. Stephanie handled these responsibilities largely away from public view.
Raising Three Children
Stephanie and Steve have three children who have each taken different paths.
Ashley, the oldest, graduated from NYU in 2024 with a degree in international relations and minors in Spanish and Portuguese. She also played volleyball and beach volleyball at Sage Hill High School, serving as captain for both teams. Ashley has given a TEDx talk on technology and maintains a social media presence focused on family and her father’s football career.
Brady, the middle child and only son, plays football at the University of Texas. The 6’1″, 230-pound linebacker walked on to the team in 2023 after playing at Corona Del Mar High School. He is studying sociology while pursuing his athletic career under his father’s coaching.
Taylor, the youngest, maintains the most privacy of the three siblings. She turned 16 in April 2024 and is often referred to as Steve’s “baby girl.” Unlike her siblings, Taylor stays out of the public spotlight and off social media.
Stephanie raised these three children through multiple relocations, Steve’s career ups and downs, and eventually as a single mother after the divorce. Co-parenting across state lines added another layer of complexity.
The 2015 Divorce
Stephanie and Steve divorced in 2015 after 18 years of marriage. The split coincided with a turbulent period in Steve’s career. He was fired from USC midseason in 2015 due to behavior related to alcohol use. He subsequently entered treatment and has spoken publicly about his recovery.
The divorce details remain private. Neither Stephanie nor Steve has discussed the reasons publicly beyond acknowledging the separation. Court records and settlement terms have not been made public.
What is known is that both parents prioritized their children throughout the process. They established a co-parenting arrangement that allowed the kids to maintain relationships with both parents.
Steve remarried in 2020 to Loreal Smith Sarkisian, a former track athlete turned coach. He has publicly credited his current wife with supporting his career and recovery. Stephanie has not remarried and has not publicly dated anyone since the divorce.
Life After Divorce
After the divorce, Stephanie moved back to Washington state with her three children. This return to familiar territory provided stability during a difficult transition.
She continued her teaching career, reportedly working at a private school in Seattle. Her focus remained on her children and her professional life rather than public attention.
As her children have grown older, Stephanie’s role has evolved. Ashley has graduated from college and started her adult life. Brady is pursuing football at Texas, which means regular contact with his father. Taylor is completing high school.
Stephanie has maintained her privacy throughout this period. She does not use social media platforms or give interviews. Friends and family who know her describe her as grounded and focused on the people closest to her.
Where Is Stephanie Sarkisian Now?
Current information about Stephanie is limited by design. She continues to live in the Seattle area and work in education, though specific details about her employer and position are not publicly available.
She remains involved in her children’s lives. Ashley’s graduation, Brady’s football career, and Taylor’s high school years keep her engaged with their ongoing development.
Stephanie has built a life centered on stability and personal relationships rather than public recognition. Her choice to maintain privacy in an era of social media visibility and influencer culture sets her apart from many coaching spouses and ex-spouses.
While Steve Sarkisian’s career continues in the national spotlight at Texas, Stephanie has created a separate identity defined by her work, her children, and her values. Her story represents the experience of many people connected to high-profile figures who choose dignity and independence over public attention.
