Who is Sac State’s new football coach Brennan Marion, and what is the ‘Go-Go’ offense?
Sacramento State announced the new coach of its football program is Brennan Marion, the former offensive coordinator for UNLV. He’s regarded an offensive wizard who brought the Runnin’ Rebels his innovative “Go-Go” offensive. Here is a snapshot of the new coach.
Reputation as a good recruiter
Marion, 37, is a native of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and he is known as a good recruiter with a sharp, creative offensive mind.
UNLV stint
UNLV set school scoring records in his two years calling the offense, leading to the Runnin’ Rebels’ best season since starting its football program in 1968, going 11-2.
Marion did not coach in UNLV’s last game, the LA Bowl on Wednesday against Cal. But UNLV did use Marion’s “Go-Go” offense to beat the Bears 24-13 to register the program’s first bowl victory in 25 years. The 11 victories are the most for the program since 1984.
What is the ‘Go-Go’ offense?
Marion has built an offense that is based on a triple option. You will often see the quarterback in the shotgun with two running backs on either side.
The offense features a variety of options and personnel, including so-called “jumbo packages” with an overwhelming offensive line, possibly with two tight ends, and pass plays that can explode from running plays. It doesn’t necessarily require a mobile quarterback.
His roots
Marion has Northern California ties, having played junior college football at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills and at De Anza College in Cupertino in 2006 before starring at Tulsa in Oklahoma in 2007.
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Marion’s head-coaching stints were in 2013 at St. Patrick/St. Vincent High School in Vallejo and in 2014 in Pennsylvania.
His college coaching stops include: quality control assistant at Arizona State in 2015, running backs coach at Oklahoma Baptist in 2016, offensive coordinator at FCS-level Howard in 2017 and 2018, offensive coordinator at William & Mary in 2019, receivers coach at Hawaii in 2020, receivers coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 2021, passing-game coordinator at Texas in 2022 and the last two seasons at UNLV.
This story was originally published December 21, 2024 at 12:25 PM.