Stephanie Sarkisian is the former wife of college football coach Steve Sarkisian and the mother of their three children, Ashley, Taylor and Brady. Their marriage covered an important stretch of his coaching career, including positions at the University of Washington and the University of Southern California. But her story also includes a contribution outside football: a joint gift supporting future public school teachers. Understanding Stephanie’s place in the Sarkisian family means looking at that educational giving, the university events bearing her name, and the distinction between her marriage and Steve’s later relationship with Loreal Sarkisian.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Stephanie Sarkisian |
| Former spouse | Steve Sarkisian |
| Marriage year | 1997 |
| Children | Ashley, Taylor and Brady |
| Divorce | Proceedings began in 2015; completed in 2016 |
| Educational contribution | Joint $100,000 gift establishing a University of Washington fellowship |
| Named fellowship | Steve and Stephanie Sarkisian Endowed Fellowship in Education |
Her Marriage to Steve Sarkisian
Stephanie and Steve Sarkisian married in 1997. Their relationship appears in university records from well before his appointment to lead a major college football program.
A March 2002 USC announcement naming Steve as an assistant football coach identified Stephanie as his wife. At that stage, his coaching résumé was still developing after his playing career at Brigham Young University and in the Canadian Football League.
He later became Washington’s head coach in 2009, leading the Huskies through the 2013 regular season before accepting the USC job. Stephanie’s name appears in both universities’ accounts of that period, connecting her to the family’s Washington and Southern California chapters.
When USC announced Steve’s appointment on December 2, 2013, its biography identified Stephanie and their three children. During his introductory press conference the following day, he acknowledged his wife and children while discussing his return to the university.
These records place Stephanie within the family history surrounding his coaching appointments. They do not establish that she held a university position or worked for either football program.
A $100,000 Gift to Support Future Teachers
One of Stephanie Sarkisian’s clearest contributions beyond her family connection is an educational gift made with Steve during his time at Washington.
The University of Washington College of Education recorded their joint donation of $100,000 to establish the Steve and Stephanie Sarkisian Endowed Fellowship in Education.
The fellowship was created to provide financial assistance to graduate students in the College of Education who intended to teach in Washington state public schools. Its purpose connected the couple’s giving to teacher preparation and the schools those future graduates hoped to serve.
The distinction matters: this was an education fellowship rather than a football scholarship. Its intended recipients were graduate students preparing for careers in public education.
An endowment also differs from a single award distributed immediately. It establishes a fund intended to support a continuing purpose under the institution’s financial and award arrangements. The university’s announcement described the beneficiaries and educational goal, without specifying an annual award amount or the number of students who would receive assistance.
Stephanie’s inclusion in the fellowship’s formal name gives her a documented connection to that initiative in her own right as a joint donor.
Her Involvement in the Sarkisian Showcase
Stephanie also appeared in Washington Athletics’ announcement for the 2013 Sarkisian Showcase.
Scheduled for June 8 and 9 at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Washington, the event invited guests to join Steve and Stephanie alongside former Huskies players and members of the football coaching staff.
The planned weekend included a dinner, a live auction featuring football experiences, and a golf tournament at the resort’s Prospector Course. Guests were offered opportunities to interact with figures associated with the Washington football program.
This places Stephanie within the program’s supporter events as well as its family biographies. It provides a more specific account of her involvement than simply describing her as someone who attended games.
The Showcase and the education fellowship served different purposes. One brought together football supporters; the other funded assistance for aspiring public school teachers.
Their Children: Ashley, Taylor and Brady
Stephanie and Steve Sarkisian have two daughters, Ashley and Taylor, and a son, Brady. University biographies named all three during Steve’s Washington and USC coaching years.
Brady later developed his own connection to college football, joining the Texas Longhorns as a linebacker in 2023.
That makes the family’s football history span two generations: Steve’s career as a player and coach, followed by Brady’s participation at the college level. It does not mean the children have followed identical paths or that their mother’s biography should be treated as an extension of their achievements.
The Divorce: Understanding the Dates
Stephanie began divorce proceedings in April 2015, while Steve was USC’s head coach. By November 2016, the divorce had been completed.
That sequence explains why both years appear in accounts of the marriage: 2015 marks the start of the proceedings, while 2016 marks their completion. Describing the divorce as a single event without that distinction can make the chronology confusing.
At the time of the separation, the family’s statement emphasized protecting the children and raising them cooperatively. It offered no detailed personal explanation for the breakup.
Stephanie Sarkisian and Loreal Sarkisian Are Different People
Stephanie was Steve Sarkisian’s first wife. Loreal Smith, who became Loreal Sarkisian, married him in June 2020.
Loreal is a fashion stylist and former collegiate athlete and track coach. Steve and Loreal announced the arrival of a son in April 2025.
These are separate chapters of Steve’s family history. Ashley, Taylor and Brady are his children with Stephanie; his later marriage and child with Loreal should not be attributed to her.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Stephanie Sarkisian?
Stephanie Sarkisian is Steve Sarkisian’s former wife, the mother of Ashley, Taylor and Brady, and a joint donor behind a University of Washington education fellowship.
When did Stephanie and Steve Sarkisian marry?
They married in 1997. Their marriage preceded Steve’s head coaching appointments at Washington and USC.
How many children does Stephanie Sarkisian have with Steve?
They have three children: daughters Ashley and Taylor, and son Brady.
When was their divorce completed?
Divorce proceedings began in April 2015, and the marriage legally ended in 2016.
What is the Stephanie Sarkisian education fellowship?
The Steve and Stephanie Sarkisian Endowed Fellowship in Education was established through their joint $100,000 gift to support University of Washington graduate students aspiring to teach in Washington public schools.
Conclusion
Stephanie Sarkisian’s biography includes a marriage that spanned significant stages of Steve Sarkisian’s coaching career, three children, participation in Washington football events, and an educational donation supporting future teachers. Together, those details provide a grounded account of her family history and contribution to the university community.
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