Stephanie Sarkisian is the ex-wife of Texas Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian and the mother of his three oldest children. The couple was married for more than 17 years before she filed for divorce in April 2015, while he was head coach at USC.
She has never courted publicity, so plenty of what is written about her online is padded or guessed. This Scan Insider profile sticks to court-reported facts, the couple’s own statement and reliable sports media.
Key Takeaways
- Stephanie was Steve Sarkisian’s first wife; they were married for more than 17 years.
- She filed for divorce on April 20, 2015, citing irreconcilable differences.
- They share three children, including son Brady, a linebacker at Texas.
- The couple promised to raise their children “in a joint, cooperative style.”
- Steve married Loreal Smith in 2020; Stephanie has stayed out of the public eye.
Quick Facts About Stephanie Sarkisian
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Known for | Ex-wife of football coach Steve Sarkisian |
| Married | Late 1990s; more than 17 years by April 2015 |
| Divorce filed | April 20, 2015, Los Angeles County Superior Court |
| Stated reason | Irreconcilable differences |
| Children | Three: two daughters and a son |
| Ex-husband | Steve Sarkisian (born March 8, 1974) |
| Birth date / age | Not publicly confirmed |
| Career | Not publicly documented |
Early Life
Very little about Stephanie’s background has been confirmed. Many websites say she and Steve were high school sweethearts from the Torrance area of Southern California, where he was born, and some list an exact birthday. None of them cite a record or interview, so we treat those details as unverified.
Relationship With Steve Sarkisian: Timeline
Stephanie was with Steve through most of his climb from player to head coach. Using his Wikipedia biography and 2015 news reports, here is how their years together line up with his career:
| Years | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Mid-1990s | Steve plays quarterback at BYU |
| Late 1990s | The couple marries; Steve plays for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders (1997-1999) |
| 2001-2008 | Assistant coach at USC, with a 2004 season as Oakland Raiders QB coach |
| 2009-2013 | Head coach at the University of Washington |
| 2014 | Returns to USC as head coach |
| April 2015 | Stephanie files for divorce |
Bio sites commonly give 1997 as the wedding year. That fits the “more than 17 years” reported in 2015, but we have not seen a marriage record, so the exact date remains unconfirmed.
Why They Split
According to TMZ Sports, as reported by Fox Sports, Stephanie filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 20, 2015, citing irreconcilable differences. No other reason has been given publicly.
Steve’s representatives released a joint statement reported by NBC Sports: “It is our desire to protect the privacy of our children and each other. Our goal is to raise our children in a joint, cooperative style as caring and loving parents. Thank you for respecting our family’s privacy. We will have no further comment.”
Six months later, in October 2015, USC placed Steve on leave and then fired him amid concerns about alcohol. Some websites connect his struggles to the divorce, but neither Stephanie nor Steve has said so, and we do not speculate.
For more breakups of well-known couples, see our celebrity exes section, including Nicole Threatt and Jan Ashley.
Children
Stephanie and Steve have three children: two daughters and a son. NBC Sports named them in 2015 as Ashley, Brady and Taylor.
- Ashley: the eldest daughter, who has kept a private life.
- Brady: committed to Texas as a preferred walk-on linebacker in December 2022, according to On3, joining the program his father coaches.
- Taylor: the youngest, who has stayed out of the public eye.
Because the children have chosen privacy, we do not share personal details beyond what has been publicly reported. For more sons and daughters of famous parents, see our celebrity kids coverage.
Steve Sarkisian’s Life After the Divorce
Steve rebuilt his career at Alabama and with the Atlanta Falcons before becoming Texas head coach in 2021. He married Loreal Smith, a former collegiate track athlete and coach, in 2020, and they have one son.
In July 2024, Steve and Loreal announced they had jointly filed for divorce, as the Austin American-Statesman reported, but Wikipedia notes they later reconciled. Scan Insider keeps that marriage separate from Stephanie’s story, since she was not involved.
Where Is Stephanie Sarkisian Now?
Stephanie has kept a low profile since 2015. We found no verified public social media account, no confirmed job and no reliable net worth figure for her. What is clear from the couple’s statement is that she has continued co-parenting their children with Steve.
If you want stories of marriages that lasted, browse the Scan Insider celebrity spouses category, including Denika Kisty, a former college athlete married to NBA guard Jason Williams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Stephanie Sarkisian?
Stephanie Sarkisian is the first wife of Texas Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian. They were married for more than 17 years, from the late 1990s until she filed for divorce in April 2015, while he was USC’s head coach. They share three children and co-parent privately.
Why did Stephanie Sarkisian and Steve Sarkisian divorce?
The divorce petition, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in April 2015, cited irreconcilable differences, according to TMZ Sports as reported by Fox Sports. Neither Stephanie nor Steve has publicly given a more specific reason, and claims online that link the split to any single event are speculation.
Did Stephanie Sarkisian and Steve Sarkisian have children?
Yes. They have three children: two daughters and a son. NBC Sports named them in 2015 as Ashley, Brady and Taylor. Brady Sarkisian later joined his father’s Texas Longhorns football program as a preferred walk-on linebacker. In their 2015 statement, the couple promised to raise their children jointly.
Is Steve Sarkisian married now?
Yes. Steve Sarkisian married Loreal Smith, a former collegiate track athlete and coach, in 2020, and they have one son together. The couple announced in July 2024 that they had jointly filed for divorce, but they later reconciled, according to his Wikipedia biography.
Sources
- NBC Sports (April 2015): Steve Sarkisian asks for privacy amid divorce proceedings
- Fox Sports (May 2015): Report: Steve Sarkisian’s wife files for divorce (citing TMZ Sports)
- Steve Sarkisian – Wikipedia
- On3 (December 2022): Brady Sarkisian commits to Texas as a preferred walk-on
- Austin American-Statesman (July 2024): Steve Sarkisian and wife Loreal jointly file for divorce
- Featured image: “Steve Sarkisian 2024” by Maize & Blue Nation, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
