Texas assistant coach arrested on DWI charge in latest distraction for No. 1 Longhorns

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas defensive assistant coach Johnny Nansen was arrested on a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge and his status for a return to the sideline with the No. 1 Longhorns has not yet been determined, head coach Steve Sarkisian announced Thursday.

Austin police said Nansen, 52, was arrested Wednesday night after officers responded to a three-vehicle wreck about 9 p.m. Nansen was one of the drivers and officers observed “multiple clues of impairment” in standard field sobriety tests, police said, without providing details.

The short description of the arrest did not mention whether Nansen submitted to a breath test. It also not detail whether Nansen or another driver was at fault in the crash.

Sarkisian said Nansen was not at practice Thursday ahead of Saturday night's home game against UTSA. Nansen coaches inside linebackers and is co-defensive coordinator. He has been on the Texas staff since 2024.

“We're obviously disappointed, but that's all I really have on it at this time,” Sarkisian said.

The arrest is the latest problem for Texas after its big come-from-behind 24-23 win over the Buckeyes that boosted Texas from No. 4 to No. 1.

Star quarterback Arch Manning was forced to apologize after publicly joking about an AI-generated video that depicted Sarkisian slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe. That video, and other fake clips, have surfaced after a brief and testy exchange between Sarkisian and Rowe after the game.

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