Key Takeaways
- Identity: Stephanie Sarkisian is the first wife of Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian, married to him from 1997 to 2016.
- The “Cher” Myth: Despite the shared Armenian surname, she is not related to the singer Cher.
- Family: She shares three children with Steve: Ashley, Taylor, and Brady (currently a linebacker for the Texas Longhorns).
- The Split: She filed for divorce in 2015 during the peak of Steve’s public battle with alcoholism, opting for a quick, private settlement without spousal support.
- Current Status: While Steve’s second marriage (and subsequent divorce) to Loreal Sarkisian played out on Instagram, Stephanie remains strictly private.
I still remember the energy around the USC practice fields back in the mid-2000s. It was the Pete Carroll era, and the Trojans were the closest thing Los Angeles had to an NFL team. The coaching staff was full of rock stars, but there was one young assistant, Steve Sarkisian, who looked like he was next in line for the throne. But if you looked past the clipboards and the Heisman trophies, you’d see the family.
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Standing quietly in the background was Stephanie Sarkisian.
She wasn’t wearing designer leather or posting “fit checks” on social media—mostly because Instagram didn’t exist yet, but also because that wasn’t her style. She was the bedrock. She was the one managing the movers when the family packed up for Seattle, and she was the one holding the home together when the pressure cooker of college football started to boil over.
Today, the cameras love to focus on Steve’s redemption arc at Texas or the high-fashion sideline moments of his second wife, Loreal. But you can’t tell the real story of Steve Sarkisian without understanding Stephanie. She was there before the millions, before the National Championships, and long before the fall.
Who is the woman who stood by him for 19 years? Why did she walk away right when things got the hardest? And is she actually related to Cher? Let’s get to the bottom of it.
Who Is Stephanie Sarkisian?
Stephanie Sarkisian is the former spouse of Steve Sarkisian, but labeling her just an “ex-wife” misses the point. She was the architect of his domestic life during his most critical professional years.
Born in the mid-1970s, Stephanie met Steve when he was just a guy from Torrance, California, trying to figure out his path. Their romance wasn’t born in a VIP box. They married in 1997, a chaotic weekend right before Steve had to fly north to play quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
If you know anything about the Canadian Football League in the 90s, you know it wasn’t glamorous. The pay was low, the travel was brutal, and the job security was non-existent. Stephanie didn’t marry a millionaire head coach; she married a grinder. She signed up for a life of uncertainty, proving early on that she was in it for the man, not the title.
Is Stephanie Sarkisian Related to Cher?
Let’s clear this up immediately because it’s the most common question I hear.
No, Stephanie Sarkisian is not related to Cher.
Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian. Her father, John Sarkisian, was an Armenian-American truck driver. The surname “Sarkisian” is fairly common in the Armenian community, roughly equivalent to “Johnson” or “Miller” in English. While it would make for a fantastic piece of trivia, there is no blood relation between Stephanie and the “Goddess of Pop.”
What Was Life Like as a Coach’s Wife?
Being married to a football coach is a specific kind of hardship. I’ve known many coaches’ wives over the years, and they all say the same thing: You are a single mother for six months of the year.
Stephanie lived this reality for nearly two decades.
- The El Camino Days: She supported him when he was coaching junior college ball for peanuts.
- The USC Rise: She managed the family while Steve became Pete Carroll’s offensive genius.
- The Washington Era: In 2009, the family uprooted to Seattle. This was Steve’s first head coaching gig, and the pressure on Stephanie ramped up. She was suddenly the “First Lady” of Husky football, expected to host recruits and attend fundraisers while raising three young kids.
Reports from that era paint a picture of a woman who was gracious but private. She understood that in this business, one bad season means you’re moving again. She was the constant variable in an equation that kept changing.
Why Did the Marriage End?
The year 2015 was a disaster. If you follow college football, you remember the headlines. Steve took a “leave of absence” from USC following the infamous “Salute to Troy” incident where he appeared intoxicated. He was fired shortly after.
But while the media analyzed his career, his home life was collapsing.
Stephanie filed for divorce in April 2015, months before the public firing. The petition cited “irreconcilable differences,” but the timing tells the real story. Alcoholism is a family disease. It erodes trust, stability, and safety long before the rest of the world sees a problem.
The divorce was finalized in 2016. What stands out to me is the “clean break.” Court documents revealed that Stephanie did not request spousal support in her initial filing. This is incredibly rare for a marriage of 19 years involving high income. It suggests she wanted out—quickly and quietly—more than she wanted a monthly check.
Who Are the Sarkisian Children?
If you want to know if Stephanie did a good job during those chaotic years, just look at her kids. Despite the divorce and the public scrutiny, she raised three children who have remained close to their father.
Brady Sarkisian: The Walk-On Linebacker
The most visible connection today is Brady Sarkisian. As of the 2025 season, Brady is a junior linebacker for the Texas Longhorns, wearing jersey #32.
Brady isn’t just a prop on the sidelines. He joined the team as a walk-on, earning his spot in the locker room. In September 2025, during a blowout win against Sam Houston State, Brady actually recorded a tackle for loss (0.5 TFL).
I can only imagine the mix of emotions Stephanie feels seeing her son play for his father. It takes a tremendous amount of maturity to co-parent effectively enough that your son wants to play for his dad after a painful divorce. That credit belongs largely to her.
Ashley and Taylor
Their daughters, Ashley and Taylor, also attend the University of Texas. The entire family has essentially reconvened in Austin. This speaks volumes about Stephanie’s character. She didn’t poison the well. She allowed her children to build their own relationship with Steve, even after the marriage failed.
What is Stephanie Sarkisian’s Net Worth?
We have to do some forensic accounting here, but we can get a close estimate.
Steve was not making his current $10 million salary when they divorced. However, he had earned millions at Washington and USC. Because they lived in California—a community property state—assets acquired during the marriage are split 50/50.
Estimated Net Worth: $2 Million – $5 Million
Why this number?
- The USC Settlement: After his firing, Steve sued USC for wrongful termination regarding his disability (alcoholism). He eventually won a settlement (reportedly worth millions). Depending on the timing of the divorce finalization, Stephanie likely received a portion of his accrued earnings and assets.
- Asset Division: Instead of monthly alimony, she likely took a larger share of the real estate and investment accounts. This gave her immediate financial independence.
She isn’t “Texas Oil Money” rich, but she is set for life.
Where Is She Now?
This is the part I respect the most. Stephanie Sarkisian has completely ghosted the public eye.
In an era where everyone is trying to monetize their trauma or write a tell-all book, she has remained silent. She has no public social media. She doesn’t give interviews to ESPN or People magazine.
She splits her time between California and Texas, focusing entirely on her children. I’ve heard from sources in Austin that she attends the Longhorn games to watch Brady. She sits in the stands, away from the VIP suites, just another mom cheering for #32.
Stephanie vs. Loreal: A Tale of Two Eras
The difference between Steve’s first and second wives illustrates perfectly how the sport has changed.
- Stephanie (The Old Guard): She viewed her role as private support. She was there to raise the kids and keep the house running so the coach could coach.
- Loreal (The New Era): Steve’s second wife (married 2020-2024) was a brand. She was the “First Lady of Texas Football,” known for high-end fashion and sideline runways.
Neither approach is wrong, but they are radically different. Stephanie represented a time when the coach’s family was off-limits; Loreal represented the modern content machine.
Is There a Chance for Reconciliation?
When Steve and Loreal announced their divorce in 2024, the rumor mill started churning. Will Steve go back to Stephanie?
Almost certainly not.
Divorce is hard. Divorce caused by addiction is harder. The trust that breaks in those situations rarely heals enough for a romantic reunion. They have found a peace as co-parents, which is likely where it will stay. Steve has rebuilt his life, and Stephanie has built a quiet, private sanctuary of her own.
Conclusion
History is usually written by the people with the loudest microphones. In this story, that’s usually Steve. But Stephanie Sarkisian deserves her flowers.
She carried the weight of that family for two decades. She weathered the storms of the CFL, the pressure of the PAC-12, and the heartbreak of addiction. And she did it all without asking for a round of applause.
So when you watch the Texas Longhorns play, and you see Steve Sarkisian pacing the sideline, remember that he didn’t get there alone. And when you see #32 run down the field on kickoff coverage, know that his mother is watching from somewhere in the crowd—proud, quiet, and resilient.
For more on Steve Sarkisian’s journey and coaching history, you can view his profile on ESPN.
FAQs – Stephanie Sarkisian
Who is Stephanie Sarkisian and what is her relationship with Steve Sarkisian?
Stephanie Sarkisian is the former spouse of Steve Sarkisian, and she was his partner for nearly two decades, supporting him through his coaching career and raising their three children.
Is Stephanie Sarkisian related to the singer Cher?
No, Stephanie Sarkisian is not related to Cher. Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian, but the surname ‘Sarkisian’ is common in the Armenian community and there is no blood relation.
What was life like for Stephanie Sarkisian as a coach’s wife?
Living as a coach’s wife was challenging for Stephanie, who supported her family through various relocations and demanding schedules, often acting as the bedrock and managing life behind the scenes.
Why did Stephanie Sarkisian and Steve Sarkisian divorce?
Stephanie filed for divorce in 2015 due to irreconcilable differences, amid Steve’s public battle with alcoholism, with the divorce finalized in 2016, and she chose a quick, private settlement without spousal support.
Where is Stephanie Sarkisian now and what is her current relationship with Steve Sarkisian?
Stephanie Sarkisian has remained private and is focused on her children, maintaining a low profile without social media presence; she has no public relationship with Steve now and is dedicated to her family.
