Texas coach Steve Sarkisian urged high school coaches to maintain their influence over players amid increasing involvement from agents and external parties. During a convention address, he stressed the importance of coaches not relinquishing control over recruitment processes. Sarkisian pointed out the ongoing transformations in college football, emphasizing that while changes exist, they are not inherently negative. He celebrated the success of Texas players in the NFL, attributing it to the guidance and mentorship of high school coaches who significantly shape their development.
You are still the ones raising your kids. You're still the ones right, that they look to for guidance. This idea right now of what's happening in my opinion, is because of the agents. They're going to shop your kids. And we can't lose sight of trying to offer really good advice.
The game is changing, not the game on the field, the game off the field, NIL, revenue sharing, publicity rights, whatever you want to call it. Agents have gotten involved, trainers have been more involved.
This year's convention had 18,562 attendees, the second-biggest crowd for the event ever, and Sarkisian spoke to thousands of them -- not as the Texas coach, but as a representative for college coaches as a whole.
I’m imploring upon you not to throw your hands in the air and just say, 'Hey, it’s out of our control.' We can’t do that. Agents are new to us. I've got to deal with agents. That's real.
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