When we talk about successful college football coaches, Steve Sarkisian's name comes up pretty quick. But behind every successful person, there's often a story that doesn't get told much. Today, we're going to talk about steve sarkisian first wife, Stephanie Sarkisian, and the life they built together before going their seperate ways.
Key Takeaways
- Steve Sarkisian married Stephanie Sarkisian in 1997
- The couple had three children together during their marriage
- They divorced in 2015 after 18 years together
- Stephanie kept a low profile throughout their relationship
- Steve is now married to Loreal Sarkisian since 2020
Who is Steve Sarkisian?
Before we dive into his personal life, lets get some background. Steve Sarkisian is currently the head football coach at the University of Texas. He's had quite a journey through college and professional football. From playing quarterback to coaching at major programs like USC and Alabama, his career has been nothing short of impressive.
But today's focus isn't just about touchdowns and championships. We're looking at the personal side of his life, specifically his relationship with his first wife Stephanie.
Meeting Stephanie: The Beginning of Their Story
Steve sarkisian first wife, Stephanie, came into his life during his early coaching days. While exact details about how they met aren't widely publicized, they tied the knot in 1997. This was a time when Steve was still building his coaching career, working his way up through various positions.
Back then, Steve was far from the high-profile coach he is today. He was grinding through the ranks, and Stephanie was right there beside him. Those early years were probably filled with moves from city to city, late nights watching film, and the uncertainty that comes with building a career in competitive college football.
The couple seemed to share a genuine connection. They were young, in love, and ready to face whatever challenges came their way. Like many coaching families, they probly knew the lifestyle would be demanding, but they were willing to make it work.
Building a Family Together
One of the most significant aspects of their marriage was starting a family. Steve and Stephanie had three children together. Their kids grew up in the world of college football, which means they expereinced things most kids don't, like moving to different states, attending big games, and being part of the football community.
Raising kids while Steve climbed the coaching ladder couldn't have been easy. Stephanie took on much of the parenting responsibilities, especially during football season when Steve's schedule was incredibly demanding. According to sources close to coaching families, its common for the spouse to manage almost everything at home while the coach focuses on the team.
Their children were:
- A son who later pursued athletics
- Two daughters who grew up around football culture
- All three maintained relatively private lives despite their father's public profile
Family life for the Sarkisians meant adjusting to new cities and schools frequently. From California to Washington and back, the kids had to adapt just like their parents did.
The Coaching Journey and Its Impact on Marriage
Steve's career trajectory was impressive but demanding. He started as a quarterbacks coach and worked his way up to offensive coordinator positions. Then came the big breaks, head coaching jobs at University of Washington and later USC. Each promotion brought more pressure, longer hours, and greater public scrutiny.
For steve sarkisian first wife Stephanie, this meant managing a household largely on her own. Football coaches work insane hours during the season. We're talking early mornings, late nights, weekends, and constant travel. Even in the off-season, there's recruiting, which means more time away from home.
This lifestyle puts strain on any marriage. Your partner is physicaly there sometimes, but mentally they're often thinking about the next game, the next recruit, or fixing problems with the team. Its like being married to someone who's always halfway present.
Many coaching wives form tight support networks because they understand the unique challenges. They get it when plans change last minute because of a recruiting visit or when family vacations get cancelled because of coaching changes.
Life in the Public Eye
When Steve became a head coach, the spotlight got brighter. Suddenly, their family wasn't just dealing with the demands of the job but also public attention. Fans, media, boosters, everyone had an opinion about Steve's performance. And whether fair or not, that attention sometimes extended to the family.
Stephanie maintained a remarkably low profile throughout Steve's career. She didn't seek attention or give interviews. This was probably intentional, a way to protect their children and maintain some normalcy. But it also meant she dealt with challenges privately, without much public support or recognition.
Living in college towns means everyone knows who you are. Going to the grocery store becomes an event. People want to talk about the last game or share their thoughts on play calling. For someone who values privacy, this can be exhausting.
The pressure gets even more intense when things aren't going well. During tough seasons or losing streaks, coaching families can face criticism. Some fans forget that coaches are real people with families who hear and feel everything that's said about them.
The Challenges They Faced
Like any marriage, Steve and Stephanie's relationship had its ups and downs. The nature of Steve's job created inherent challenges that many couples don't face. Long distance, constant pressure, and public scrutiny all played a role.
There were also Steve's well-documented struggles. In 2015, he faced some personal challenges that became public. These issues undoubtedly put additional strain on their marriage. When someone you love is struggling, it affects the entire family. You want to help, but sometimes the situation is bigger than what one person can fix.
Financial pressures probably weren't an issue by this point in Steve's career, but money doesn't solve relationship problems. If anything, success can create new challenges. The demands increase, expectations grow, and work-life balance becomes even harder to maintain.
Communication becomes difficult when one partner is constantly stressed and busy. Date nights get replaced by recruiting dinners. Family time gets interupted by emergency team meetings. Over time, these small sacrifices can add up.
The Divorce in 2015
After 18 years of marriage, Steve and steve sarkisian first wife Stephanie decided to part ways in 2015. Divorce is never easy, especially when children are involved. The couple kept details private, which shows maturity and concern for their kids' wellbeing.
The timing coincided with a particularly difficult period in Steve's career. He was dealing with personal issues and eventually left his position at USC. Going through a divorce while also facing professional setbacks must have been incredibly challenging for everyone involved.
| Marriage Timeline | Event |
| 1997 | Steve and Stephanie got married |
| 1997-2015 | Raised three children together |
| 2015 | Couple divorced after 18 years |
| 2015-2020 | Steve remained single |
| 2020 | Steve married Loreal Sarkisian |
Despite the split, both Steve and Stephanie seemed committed to co-parenting their children. This is crucial because kids need both parents, regardless of whether they're together.
Life After Divorce for Stephanie
After the divorce, Stephanie continued to maintain her privacy. Unlike some ex-spouses of celebrities who seek the spotlight, she chose to stay out of the public eye. This decision reflects her character and priorites, focusing on her children rather than media attention.
Information about Stephanie's current life is limited, which seems to be exactly how she wants it. She's not active on social media platforms, doesn't give interviews, and generally keeps her personal life personal. In today's world where everyone shares everything, this level of privacy is actually quite remarkable.
What we do know is that she remained involved in her children's lives. Being a parent doesn't end with divorce, and Stephanie continued to be there for her kids as they navigated young adulthood.
Its worth noting that life after divorce for the non-famous spouse can be particularly challenging. You've spent years as part of a unit, and suddenly you're redefining who you are as an individual. Add to that the challenge of having been married to someone in the public eye, and the adjustment becomes even more complex.
Steve's New Chapter with Loreal
In 2020, Steve married Loreal Sarkisian, who had a completely different background from his first marriage. Loreal was a track and field athlete and came into the relationship with her own identity and career. She's much more public on social media and embraces the role of being a coach's wife in a modern way.
The contrast between Steve's two marriages is interesting. His relationship with Loreal seems to represent a new chapter in his life, one where he's older, wiser, and hopefully learned from past experiences. Loreal is often seen supporting Steve at games and events, and she's become somewhat of a personality in her own right.
This doesn't diminish what Steve and steve sarkisian first wife Stephanie built together. They had 18 years, three kids, and countless memories. That foundation doesn't disappear just because the marriage ended.
The Children Today
Steve and Stephanie's three children are now young adults. They've grown up watching their father's career, experiencing the highs and lows, and learning valuable life lessons along the way. Despite their parents' divorce, they seem to have turned out well.
Growing up as a coach's kid teaches you things. You learn about:
- Resilience when your parent faces criticism
- Adaptability when you have to move and change schools
- Work ethic by watching your parent's dedication
- Handling success and failure with grace
The kids have maintained relationships with both parents, which speaks to Steve and Stephanie's commitment to putting their children first. Co-parenting after divorce isn't easy, but it's so important for the kids' wellbeing.
Lessons from Their Story
The story of steve sarkisian first wife and their marriage offers several lessons about relationships, especially in high-pressure careers. First, success in one area of life doesn't guarantee success in others. You can be a brilliant coach and still struggle in your personal relationships.
Second, privacy has value. Stephanie's choice to stay out of the spotlight protected her and her children from unnecessary scrutiny. Not everything needs to be public, especially when it comes to family matters.
Third, divorce doesn't have to be ugly. By keeping things private and focusing on their children, Steve and Stephanie showed that its possible to end a marriage with dignity.
Finally, people grow and change. The person you marry at 25 might not be compatible with who you are at 45. That doesn't mean the marriage was a failure, it just means people evolved differently.
The Reality of Coaching Marriages
Coaching marriages face unique challenges that deserve recognition. The divorce rate among college football coaches is higher than the national average, and there are clear reasons why. The job demands are extreme, the pressure is constant, and the lifestyle is unstable.
Coaches miss birthdays, anniversaries, and important family events. They move their families across the country for opportunities. They deal with job insecurity, knowing one bad season could mean unemployment. Spouses carry the burden of keeping everything together at home.
Organizations like our blog have covered stories about coaching families and the unique pressures they face. Its a lifestyle that requires a special kind of commitment and understanding.
For every successful coaching career, there's often a spouse who sacrificed their own ambitions, managed the household alone, and dealt with the stress of public life. These contributions rarely get acknowledged, but they're crucial to the coach's ability to succeed.
Moving Forward
Today, Steve Sarkisian is thriving professionally at the University of Texas. He's learned from past mistakes and seems more balanced in his approach to life and work. His relationship with Loreal appears healthy and supportive.
Steve sarkisian first wife Stephanie continues living her life privately, focused on what matters most to her. She doesn't need public validation or recognition for the years she spent supporting Steve's career and raising their children.
Their three kids are finding their own paths in life, carrying lessons from both parents. They understand that relationships take work, that success comes with sacrifices, and that sometimes things don't work out the way you planned.
The end of a marriage doesn't erase the good times or the growth that happened during those years. Steve and Stephanie built something meaningful together, even if it didn't last forever.
Conclusion
The story of steve sarkisian first wife Stephanie is a reminder that behind every public figure is a private story. For 18 years, she was Steve's partner, supporting him through the early struggles and the eventual success. They built a family together and navigated the unique challenges of life in college football.
While their marriage ended, the impact of those years continues. Three children carry forward the legacy of their relationship. Steve has grown from his experiences and found happiness again. Stephanie maintains her dignity and privacy while remaining devoted to her children.
In a world obsessed with celebrity and drama, their story is refreshingly grounded. It's about real people dealing with real challenges, making difficult decisions, and trying to do what's best for their family. That's something we can all relate to, regardless of whether we're in the public eye or not.
Marriage is hard. Marriage in the spotlight is harder. And marriage in the demanding world of college football coaching might be one of the hardest things to maintain. Steve and Stephanie gave it their best shot, and when it no longer worked, they handled it with maturity and grace.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Steve Sarkisian marry his first wife? Steve Sarkisian married Stephanie in 1997, during the early years of his coaching career.
How many children did Steve and Stephanie have together? They had three children together during their 18-year marriage.
Why did Steve and Stephanie get divorced? The couple divorced in 2015 after 18 years together. They kept the specific reasons private, but it coincided with a difficult period in Steve's personal and professional life.
Who is Steve Sarkisian married to now? Steve is currently married to Loreal Sarkisian. They got married in 2020.
Does Stephanie Sarkisian have social media? No, Stephanie has maintained a very private life and does not have public social media accounts.
What does Stephanie Sarkisian do now? Stephanie's current activities are not publicly known. She has chosen to maintain her privacy after the divorce.
Did the divorce affect Steve's coaching career? The divorce happened during a challenging time in Steve's career, but he has since rebuilt both his professional and personal life, now coaching at the University of Texas.