Washington Names Marques Tuiasosopo Interim Coach

Following Steve Sarkisian’s surprise move over to USC, the Washington Huskies were left without a head coach for their upcoming bowl game, but the school reacted quickly this week and promoted from within.

According to ESPN.com, the school announced on Wednesday that it had named quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo as its interim head coach. Tuiasosopo is set to begin preparing the team for what will likely be an appearance in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl later this month.

“I’m humbled and so honored,” Tuiasosopo said in the school’s official announcement. “It’s a great, incredible honor to lead my alma mater in a bowl game. We still have a lot to play for this season. I am excited to go out and get a ninth win.”

Tuiasosopo is best known to UW fans as the team’s star quarterback from 1997-2000. He then played six seasons in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders, before taking his first coaching job in 2010 as the assistant strength coach at Washington. In 2012, UCLA hired him as its assistant tight ends coach, but after being offered the QBs coach position with Washington, he returned to Seattle this season.

While the move figures to be a popular one amongst fans, it’s somewhat of a surprise, consideration most programs would elevate a longer tenured coordinator in such a situation. Following Sarkisian’s sudden exit, many expected defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox to fill the interim head coaching role. However, Sarkisian reportedly may want Wilcox to join him at USC, which could explain why the Huskies went the route they did with the decision.

It’s unclear whether or not Tuiasosopo has a chance to earn the head coaching job permanently, but that may depend on how the Huskies fare in their upcoming postseason bout.

One thing we can expect for sure is that the Huskies will be ready to play whoever they may face.

“Whatever decision is made, we’re going to roll with it,” Washington quarterback Keith Price said earlier this week, before the Tuisasosopo promotion. “We’re going to perform at the best of our abilities.”