The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Sarkisian tabs Johnny Nansen as co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
01.06.2024 | Football
A 25-year coaching veteran, Nansen coordinated a defense at Arizona that helped a Wildcats’ resurgence to a 10-3 record, No. 14 national ranking, and Valero Alamo Bowl victory this season.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian has tabbed Johnny Nansen, one of the nation's top defensive coaches, as the Longhorns' co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach. A veteran of 25 years in coaching, Nansen spent the past year as Defensive Coordinator at Arizona where his unit helped lead a Wildcats resurgence in a 10-3 Valero Alamo Bowl Championship campaign. He has coached on both sides of the ball, as well as special teams throughout his career, spent seven years previously on Sarkisian's staffs, and been focused on defense the past eight years. Nansen replaces Jeff Choate, who is now the head coach at Nevada and coached for the Longhorns through the College Football Playoff game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
"Johnny is a guy I've known for a long time, and I have so much respect for," said Sarkisian. "He has a wealth of knowledge and experience, is highly regarded in our business, and is a tremendous recruiter. He's a high-energy coach who does a great job developing his players and getting the best out of them. Johnny's been focused on the defensive side of the ball the past eight years, and what he did with Arizona's defense that helped lead a dramatic turnaround in that program this year was sensational. He brings an aggressive, physical and disciplined style of football, his players play fast, relentless and tough, and he's had success everywhere he's been. And on top of that, he's a great man who builds awesome relationships with his players and is passionate about the game. He'll pour everything into our team, our players and Texas Football. Longhorn nation is going to love Johnny, and we're fired up to have him joining our staff."
Nansen, who has worked in a variety of roles during his career, spent the past eight years on the defensive side of the ball including the last two seasons as defensive coordinator at Arizona. His defense played a vital role in the Wildcats resurgence in 2023, going from 5-7 in 2022 to a 10-3 record, victory over No. 12 Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl, and a No. 14 national ranking at the end of the regular season. Nansen's defense forced six Sooner turnovers (three fumbles, three interceptions) which the Wildcats converted into 27 points — including a fumble return for a touchdown — in a 38-24 win.
"When Coach Sark called it was an easy decision. It's a dream come true to work at a place like Texas — with all its rich history and tradition — and reuniting with Sark is a big part of it, too," said Nansen. "He gave me a chance at Washington and USC, and I've been fortunate to grow as a coach through him and look forward to doing that again. You just look at his record, he knows how to build a program, and he does it the right way. Sark knows how to develop coaches, and he's as good as there is at developing players, which is something that is really important to me, too. A lot of my philosophy is based on what Sark believes in, so being able to reunite with him, his vision, passion and drive to succeed every single day was a key factor in coming to Texas."
"The caliber of players and the commitment that The University of Texas has for football is second to none," Nansen added. "Texas is a place where you can compete for National Championships, work with the best of the best, and be a part of a place and a state that loves its football, which is so exciting. I'm thrilled to have the chance to work with the awesome staff Sark's built, as well. That's a great group of coaches and incredible guys I get to be a part of. I can't wait to get started."
The standout performance in the Alamo Bowl secured 10-plus wins for the Wildcats for just the fourth time in school history, while their seven victories in Pac-12 play matched Arizona's most ever. Nansen's defense played a critical role in the team's success, ranking among the nation's top 30 in fumble recoveries (10/16th), red zone defense (76%/17th), rushing defense (118.2 ypg/25th), scoring defense (21.2 ppg/29th), and sacks (34/2.6 pg/25th). The Wildcats held opponents to 357.9 yards per game on the year. During the season, Nansen's defense held three teams that ranked in the top 25 at the time they played to fewer than 18 points in wins (No. 20 UCLA, 27-10; No. 19 Washington State, 48-6; No. 16 Utah, 42-18). His 2023 Arizona defense was led by first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker Jacob Manu, who led the Wildcats with 116 tackles while recording 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss this season. Safety Gunner Maldonado earned Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP honors after posting an interception and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned 87 yards for a touchdown, in the win over Oklahoma.
"He's that guy," Maldonado said after the Alamo Bowl. "We love him … everybody just loves being around him, and this year I think we've really just trusted him, trusted his play call. We just love how he coaches, his energy. He loves us — he talks about trusting each other, loving on each other, and you see it, day in and day out. He's the same guy every day. I'm pretty sure he tackled one of our guys on the sideline after a big play today, that's just him. We love him, he's just a great person, great coach."
"Like Sark, I believe the way the game is played is physical, I want to put our players in a position to play fast, and I think it's really important to be a great teacher of the game," Nansen added. "Sark says it all the time, and I've carried that with me – successful teams play fast, physical, smart football, and have a passion for the game. That's how I coach. Our players will understand why and how they do things. I'm big on developing players, and that's one of the things that intrigued me the most about coming to Texas, having the opportunity to work with elite athletes and helping them develop as players and people. That's Coach Sark's vision, and we are absolutely aligned in that."
Nansen took over as defensive coordinator for Arizona Football in 2022 when the Wildcats were coming off four-straight losing seasons, including a 1-11 mark in 2021 and 0-5 in 2020. Once aboard, Nansen began the transformation by playing a key role in building Arizona's 2022 signing class that ranked second in the Pac-12, 22nd nationally, and included the first five-star signee in program history. The Wildcats were 5-7 the first year, but Nansen's aggressive defense showed signs of turning things around, forcing 16 turnovers — 10 more than 2021 — and improving their win total by four games. That paved the way for an increase of five wins to their first 10-win campaign in a decade this year. His defense increased their turnover total to 19 this season, converting those into 63 points.
Prior to Arizona, Nansen spent the previous two seasons coaching the defensive line for UCLA. During the 2021 season, he played a significant role in UCLA's success defending the run as the Bruins allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game in the conference (124.2/26th nationally). In his first season with UCLA in 2020, the Bruins defense led the Pac-12 in fewest rushing yards per carry allowed (3.6) and rated eighth in the nation while leading the league in sacks per game (3.29).
Prior to his time at UCLA, Nansen spent six seasons on the coaching staff at USC. In 2019, he guided the inside linebackers and was the defensive run game coordinator. From 2016-18, he held the title of assistant head coach while working with the linebackers and coordinating recruiting efforts.
In 2017, Nansen was named the Pac-12 Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports.com and helped guide the USC defense that ranked fourth nationally in red zone defense (.712) and fifth in sacks (3.3), while coaching linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who was a first-team All-American and a second-round pick in the NFL draft.
Nansen's first two seasons at USC (2014-2015) were under Sarkisian and spent as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator. In 2015, tailbacks Ronald Jones II and Justin Davis each rushed for more than 900 yards, while Jones set the USC freshman season rushing record and became just the second true freshman to lead USC in season rushing. In 2014, tailback Javorius Allen made All-Pac-12 first team while rushing for 1,489 yards (the most by a Trojan since 2005) and he was an NFL fourth round draft pick. USC's special teams also returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Nansen spent the previous five seasons coaching for Sarkisian at Washington in a variety of roles from 2009-13. From 2012-13, he was the assistant head coach, running backs coach and special teams coordinator. In 2012 and 2013, Bishop Sankey put together back-to-back top-20 national rushing finishes. Sankey, who was a Doak Walker Award finalist in 2013, ranked fourth nationally in rushing yards per game (143.8) that season and the Huskies rated 15th-best in the country in rushing offense. In 2012, Sankey was 19th in the NCAA with a 110.7 rushing yards per game mark and went on to play in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans.
In 2011, Washington ranked No. 7 in the nation in net punting and No. 21 in punt return defense. In 2010, his special teams featured school record-setting punter Kiel Rasp, and in 2009, Nansen coached defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim an NFL draftee who finished his career with a school-record 30 sacks.
Before coaching at Washington, Nansen spent five seasons from 2004-08 at Idaho, where he worked with the linebackers his first three years, defensive line the final two years and special teams each season.
He began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Louisville in 1999, working with the defensive line as the Cardinals earned a berth in the Humanitarian Bowl. His first full-time coaching job came in 2000 as the Montana State running backs coach, and he went on to coach three seasons (2001-03) at Idaho State over the cornerbacks and the secondary.
Nansen was a three-year letterman linebacker at Washington State and received his bachelor's degree in business administration in 1997. He and his wife, Hale, have three children – Makena Lei, Kealia Kei and Johnny Jr.