'We're ready to get here': Brennan Marion on being Sacramento State's new head football coach

TOYOTA. SACRAMENTO STATE OFFICIALLY HIRED BRENDAN MARION TO TAKE OVER THE FOOTBALL TEAM AS THEY LOOK TO ELEVATE THE PROGRAM TO GREATER HEIGHTS. KCRA 3’S MICHELLE DAPPER HAD THE CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH COACH MARION TONIGHT. PRESIDENT WOOD AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MARK LIKE THEY THEY DID A GOOD JOB. BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST TREATING ME FIRST CLASS. THEY BOTH FLEW OUT TO VEGAS. YOU KNOW, AND THE WAY THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, RECRUITED ME OR, YOU KNOW, WANTED ME, MADE ME FEEL LIKE, MAN, THIS PLACE REALLY WANTS TO DO SOMETHING BIG. AND I JUST LOVE THE INVESTMENT AND THE THE ENERGY TOWARDS MAKING SACRAMENTO STATE BE, YOU KNOW, THE BIG TIME. AND THAT’S KIND OF MY MINDSET AND HOW I’VE ALWAYS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DONE THINGS. SO I’M EXCITED BECAUSE THEY’RE HUNGRY AND THEY THEY WANT TO AND THEY’RE, YOU KNOW, ENERGY ABOUT IT HAS REALLY GOT ME EXCITED. AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT’S KIND OF HOW I’VE LIVED MY LIFE AND MY CAREER. AND IF YOU’VE ASKED ANYBODY ABOUT ME, THAT’S KIND OF THE WAY THAT I ROLL. SO I’M I’M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT’LL BE A LOT OF WORK WE’RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS HARD TO DO, TO GO FROM FCS TO FBS TO POWER FIVE, YOU KNOW? SO THAT’LL DEFINITELY TAKE A LOT OF WORK. BUT I’M GLAD THAT THEY TRUSTED ME WITH WITH THE VISION TO GET IT DONE. OBVIOUSLY, THEY’VE BEEN A WINNER IN THE PAST. I THINK COACH TROY DID A GOOD JOB WHEN HE WAS HERE AND PUT THIS PROGRAM IN A GOOD PLACE. I JUST GOT TO CHANGE THE TIRES AND BRAKES. IT’S ALREADY A N

Brennan Marion says he's already feeling the love from Sacramento just days since finalizing a deal to become the Hornets' next head football coach.Marion is credited for pioneering UNLV’s “Go-Go Offense” and was named Mountain West Coordinator of the Year during his first season in Las Vegas in 2023. During his time at UNLV as a coordinator, the Rebels had a 20-8 record and made back-to-back appearances in the Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game.His hiring came as former Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick was also in talks with Sac State, but Vick ultimately took a head coach gig with Norfolk State.Now a Hornet, Marion said he's ready to get to work and elevate Sac State to reach Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, which the university and other Sacramento leaders have been pushing to join. He shared with KCRA 3's Michelle Dapper his experience getting recruited by Sac State President Luke Wood and Athletic Director Mark Orr."The way that they recruited me and wanted me made me feel like, 'Man, this place really wants to do something big,'" Marion said. "I just love the investment and the energy toward making Sacramento State the big time."When asked about his coaching style, Marion described himself as a very serious, no-nonsense coach who only wants to work with people who are passionate about football. He expects his team to show up and be hungry.Marion said he plans to have an explosive offense, but he also wants to put a strong emphasis on the team's defense, wanting to have Sac State be known as "Sack State." The new coach is taking the reins at a time when there is pressure to bring the Hornets back to relevance in the Big Sky Conference. The team finished 3-9 this season and failed to reach the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs this year.Sac State also plans to build a new stadium regardless of whether it can join PAC-12 or the Mountain West.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Brennan Marion says he's already feeling the love from Sacramento just days since finalizing a deal to become the Hornets' next head football coach.

Marion is credited for pioneering UNLV’s “Go-Go Offense” and was named Mountain West Coordinator of the Year during his first season in Las Vegas in 2023. During his time at UNLV as a coordinator, the Rebels had a 20-8 record and made back-to-back appearances in the Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game.

His hiring came as former Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick was also in talks with Sac State, but Vick ultimately took a head coach gig with Norfolk State.

Now a Hornet, Marion said he's ready to get to work and elevate Sac State to reach Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, which the university and other Sacramento leaders have been pushing to join.

He shared with KCRA 3's Michelle Dapper his experience getting recruited by Sac State President Luke Wood and Athletic Director Mark Orr.

"The way that they recruited me and wanted me made me feel like, 'Man, this place really wants to do something big,'" Marion said. "I just love the investment and the energy toward making Sacramento State the big time."

When asked about his coaching style, Marion described himself as a very serious, no-nonsense coach who only wants to work with people who are passionate about football. He expects his team to show up and be hungry.

Marion said he plans to have an explosive offense, but he also wants to put a strong emphasis on the team's defense, wanting to have Sac State be known as "Sack State."

The new coach is taking the reins at a time when there is pressure to bring the Hornets back to relevance in the Big Sky Conference. The team finished 3-9 this season and failed to reach the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs this year.

Sac State also plans to build a new stadium regardless of whether it can join PAC-12 or the Mountain West.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

'We're ready to get here': Brennan Marion on being Sacramento State's new head football coach

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