Texas Longhorns Fire Assistant Coach
The Texas Longhorns are continuing to make waves within their coaching staff following the conclusion of the 2025 season. Reports indicate that the program will not be retaining nickels coach Keynodo Hudson, who served on Steve Sarkisian's staff for two years. Prior to this role, Hudson was a defensive analyst with the team. This decision marks another shift in the coaching landscape at Texas, as the sidelines are expected to look significantly different next year.
In addition to not rehiring Hudson, the Longhorns have also parted ways with several other assistant coaches. Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, defensive backs coach Duane Akina, and running backs coach Chad Scott have all been let go. In their place, the team has brought in new talent, including defensive coordinator Will Mushcamp and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke. Additionally, Blake Gideon has returned to the defensive staff.
Hudson’s coaching career includes roles at Ole Miss, where he was the cornerbacks coach before joining Texas as a defensive analyst. He also coached at Florida Atlantic (2017-2018), Illinois (2019-2020), and Western Kentucky (2021-2023). His experience across multiple programs has made him a well-rounded coach, but his tenure at Texas has come to an end.
Sarkisian has already commented on the departures of Kwiatkowski and Akina, and he is expected to address the other changes later this offseason. In a statement, he expressed gratitude for their contributions:
“We appreciate all that Pete Kwiatkowski has done for the program in his five years coordinating our defense and are grateful for Duane Akina’s efforts in returning to the program this past year. They are both tremendous coaches and people who worked extremely hard for Texas Football and the players they coached. We have had a great deal of success, are thankful for the roles they played in that, and wish them the best.”
Sarkisian also highlighted the importance of moving forward, particularly with the hiring of Will Mushcamp:
“At this time, we just felt it was best for our program to move in a different direction, and having the opportunity to hire Will Muschamp provides us the leadership to take our defense to another level. Will is a guy I’ve known for a long time, always admired and is as good of a defensive mind and coach as I’ve ever coached against. His defenses are relentless; he absolutely gets the best out of his staff and players and is such an extremely well-respected coach. I know Longhorn Nation knows him well, he led some incredible defenses here on the Forty, and I’m so fired up to be bringing him back to Texas. He’ll be an awesome addition to our staff.”
Key Coaching Changes
- Keynodo Hudson – Nickels coach, not retained after two years on the staff
- Pete Kwiatkowski – Defensive coordinator, departed the program
- Duane Akina – Defensive backs coach, also left the team
- Chad Scott – Running backs coach, no longer with the program
- Will Mushcamp – New defensive coordinator, bringing experience and leadership
- Jabbar Juluke – New running backs coach, added to the staff
- Blake Gideon – Returning to the defensive staff
These changes signal a significant transformation in the way Texas approaches its defense and offensive strategies. With Mushcamp at the helm, the team is looking to elevate its performance and build a stronger foundation for future seasons.
Additional Updates
Other developments have also taken place within the Texas football program. The team has seen several key players enter the transfer portal, including multiple running backs and cornerbacks. Meanwhile, some players are considering their options for the NFL draft, such as the tight end who has declared for the 2026 draft.
Despite these challenges, the Longhorns remain focused on strengthening their roster. They are actively recruiting top transfer targets, including wide receiver Cam Coleman, and are working to secure visits from promising prospects.
The team also faced controversy during their bowl game against Michigan, where officiating decisions sparked debate among fans and analysts. However, the Longhorns managed to secure a win, showcasing their resilience on the field.
As the offseason progresses, the focus will remain on rebuilding and preparing for the upcoming season. With new coaching staff members in place and a renewed sense of direction, Texas is poised to make a strong return in 2026.
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