He Created A New Offense - And It Actually Works!
“You know, I can put the pro-style, West Coast, drop-back passing game together with RPOs, with the triple option, and make all the runs in the triple option," Marion said.
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Hey friends,
In my latest edition of “Next Up,” Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion joined me for an exclusive, one-of-a-kind interview where he opened up like never before.
From being broke in his 20s to getting passed over for head coaching jobs — including at his alma mater — Marion stayed true to himself, even when it cost him opportunities. Now, he’s one of the most innovative minds in football.
Marion shared what it was like getting the call for his first head coaching job, the infrastructure he immediately changed at Sacramento State, and how his journey shaped the edge he brings to the sideline.
He dove deep into creating the “Go-Go Offense” — a system built to win without top-tier talent — and the grit it took to form it from nothing.
Additionally, Marion explained why he believes “one great year can change your life,” and how that mindset has continued to guide him throughout is coaching journey.
Without further ado, let’s discuss my top three takeaways from our conversation:
1️⃣ Communication Skills Travel
Marion’s journey throughout the coaching ranks — and life — is a true testament to resilience, innovation, and sticking to a style that defines who he is.
Despite growing up in the Greater Pittsburgh Area, his childhood was far from steady.
He told me that his family “moved every year growing up,” which included periods of homelessness and loved ones struggling with addiction.
In many ways, Marion’s coaching journey, defined by 13 stops over the last 14 seasons, mirrors his climb through life.
“You have to have great communication skills when you change schools every year,” Marion told me. “You always start off as the new kid… That’s, kind of, always been my calling card as I transitioned jobs…. That’s really what I learned, like your communication skills travel. The way you go about your business and the way that you operate as a coach.”
The Steel City native’s communication has allowed his offenses to shatter records at nearly every stop he’s been.
In 2017, his first year as Howard’s offensive coordinator, the Bison led the MEAC in total offense, rushing, and passing yards while averaging nearly 30 points and over 440 yards per game.
After multiple stops as a Power Four position coach, Marion finally earned his first shot at becoming an FBS play-caller at UNLV in 2023 and 2024.
This past season, UNLV’s dynamic scheme put up 38.7 points per game, 434 yards per outing, and 6.4 yards per snap.
His ability to dissect film and implement unique concepts is second-to-none, and his unrivaled communication is what makes his coaching style so effective.
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2️⃣ Innovation Creates Separation
From Boise State’s famed Statue of Liberty trick play to knock off Oklahoma in 2007 to Mike Leach’s air-raid philosophy that shaped the modern Big 12, creativity has always been the backbone of college football.
Very few coaches have created and coined a name for their own offensive system, but Marion has — The “Go-Go Offense.”
When he first began his coaching journey as the head man at Waynesboro Area High School in Pennsylvania, Marion set out on a complicated quest:
“I just got immersed in trying to figure out how do I create an offense where, even if you don’t have the best players, you still have a chance to win games?” Marion recalled.
In 2014, Marion’s style led Waynesboro to its first winning season in over a decade, marked by a historic 6-4 campaign. Just two years before his arrival, the team was winless.
“One day, I just had that ‘Aha Moment’ of, ‘OK, I can marry all these offenses together,’” Marion said. “You know, I can put the pro-style, West Coast, drop-back passing game together with RPOs, with the triple option, and make all the runs in the triple option.”
A year later, Arizona State head coach Todd Graham brought Marion onto his staff in a quality control role.
Now, Marion is excited to install his “Go-Go” style at Sacramento State.
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3️⃣ Let Miracles Work
Around the college football circle, Marion is widely known as an inspiring force with many relationships cultivated throughout his various stops on the coaching trail.
One of my favorite Marion quotes is, “One great year can change your life.”
I asked what that saying means to him, and as expected, he put it eloquently:
“Once you see a miracle from God, you can never unsee that, right?” Marion said. “For me, my story was I went to junior college, [and] my first year did not go well… I just had a lot of adversity… My emotional intelligence wasn’t high at the time.”
“So, what I did was I stopped making excuses, and I just said, ‘You know what? This year is going to be the year,’” Marion continued. “And, every single day, it was all about this year has to be the year.”
From there, Marion made a decision that he was going to empty the tank and give his best effort each and every day.
After his first year at Foothill College, he transferred to De Anza College in Cupertino California, where his newly-formed habits culminated in junior college All-American honors.
He led all receivers in his division with 1,196 yards and 16 touchdowns as his squad’s primary receiver.
Marion’s story shows that hard work, dedication, and creativity have no limits, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to share his story this week.
To watch my full conversation with Marion, click here.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email at adam@brenemanmedia.com.
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Shoutout to Connor Krause for helping to write this newsletter and putting it together!
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