Greensburg Salem graduate Brennan Marion is finalizing a deal to become the head coach at Sacramento State, according to multiple reports and first reported by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.
Marion was the offensive coordinator at UNLV for the last two seasons. Dan Mullen was hired after UNLV head coach Barry Odom took a new job with the Purdue Boilermakers, but Marion did not follow Odom to take the head coach job.
The 37-year-old Marion will not coach UNLV during the LA Bowl against the California Golden Bears. Known as the creator of the “Go-Go Offense,” Marion has jumped from job to job in the college ranks, slowly climbing the ladder.
In 2021, he helped Pitt win an ACC championship with the development of Jordan Addison, and the next season, he went to Texas to become their wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator, helping develop Xavier Worthy.
Marion started playing at Steel Valley. However, he became a star at Greensburg Salem, where he was a four-year letter winner in three sports: football, basketball, and track.
After high school, Marion hit the JUCO ranks, earning a scholarship to play at the University of Tulsa. In 2007, Marion racked up 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns, winning C-USA Newcomer of the Year. However, a torn ACL late in his senior season hurt his NFL chances. He signed with the Miami Dolphins but re-tore the same ACL, ending his football career.
Following that, Marion swiftly became a coach. He started at the high school level in California but returned to Pennsylvania after becoming the head coach at Waynesboro Area High School in Franklin County.
During the 2014 season, Marion developed the Go-Go offense and led Waynesboro to their first winning season and divisional title in 22 seasons. He re-signed following the season to accept a quality control job at Arizona State.
After that, Marion became the running backs coach at Oklahoma Baptist University before two offensive coordinator gigs at Howard and William and Mary. To move up to the FBS, Marion became the wide receivers coach at the University of Hawaii.
The job at Sacramento State will be Marion’s first college head coach opportunity. The Hornets plan to elevate themselves to the FBS and are looking to elevate the program, which is what Marion will be tasked with doing.
