Who is Loreal Sarkisian? All about Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian’s stylist wife as she reveals emergency childbirth

The head football coach of the University of Texas, Steve Sarkisian, and his wife, Loreal Sarkisian, welcomed their son, Amays, in April 2025. On Wednesday, August 27, Loreal uploaded a video on YouTube, where she revealed she experienced a complicated pregnancy and had to undergo emergency childbirth.

Loreal Sarkisian is a personal stylist of celebrities who has become well-recognized for her gameday looks. She also helped her husband through a wardrobe change.

In the 12-minute video titled “Loreal Sarkisian’s Intro to Motherhood,” she reflected on her difficult journey ahead of becoming a mother. She revealed finding out that she was pregnant in the fall of 2024. While “excited” to finally start a family, she was also confused, as the first trimester was “not fun for me.”

According to the “First Lady of the Texas Longhorn football,” she had her “pregnancy symptoms” but wanted to skip to the part where she could just walk around with her baby bump, and feel “great.” While after the first trimester, she began feeling “better,” she learnt the next part of her pregnancy was “going to look completely different for me.”

Subsequently, she was put on bed rest and was admitted to the hospital to avoid any surprises.

“Once admitted into the hospital, it became even more real. I was OK and, not to mention, I needed to [be] for the baby’s sake. At that point, he could feel everything I feel. I just needed him to stay in as long as possible,” Loreal stated.

However, when her unborn child’s heart rate suddenly and prematurely dropped, she had to undergo an emergency C-section. Fortunately, she and Steve were blessed with a “healthy” baby boy.

Everything you need to know about Loreal Sarkisian

Loreal Sarkisian, 39, is a wardrobe stylist and former track star who was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. During a January 2025 interview with WFAA, she described herself as a tomboy growing up who played softball and ran track, while also being a fashion enthusiast and a fan of Alexander McQueen.

“I’ve always been a part of the sports world. I know people probably only see me as a fashionista and in the fashion industry, but forever I was an athlete,” Ms. Sarkisian stated.

Loreal met Steve somewhere between 2013 and 2015 when he was the head football coach at the University of Southern California, while she was the assistant coach for the track and field team. She also tried out for the Olympics in 2012, according to Tribeza.

After years of dating, in June 2020, the couple walked down the aisle. Back then, Steve was the offensive coordinator for the University of Alabama’s football team.

Later, he became the Head Coach and she the First Lady of Texas Longhorn Football. Since then, she has turned heads for her gameday fits. She has also grown a business where she styles her husband, other CEOs, and celebrities. She helps them build a wardrobe, styles them for events and photoshoots, and also guides their vacation looks.

Also fondly called “Mama Sark, Loreal Sarkisian is also a stepmom to Steve’s older kids, daughters Taylor and Ashley, and son Brady, whom he shares with ex-wife Stephanie (divorced in 2016).

“[I] grew up in an environment of love and support and giving back and nurturing and fostering relationships, building confidence. That’s why personal styling speaks to me more. It’s not just a job. I’m learning everything about you to make sure you look good but also feel good,” Loreal told the outlet.

In May 2024, Loreal Sarkisian attended the MET Gala reception at Maison Barnes restaurant in NYC, as part of her fashion gig. She is also seen shopping for high-end brands like Hermes, Gucci, and Aritzia. In July of the same year, the couple briefly split. They shared via a joint Instagram post that they were filing for divorce to focus on their respective careers and parting “amicably.” The statement continued:

"We aim to remain the best of friends and are incredibly grateful for the love and support we have shared throughout our journey together. Our commitments to our respective careers made it difficult to prioritize time for each other, and this step will provide us with the necessary time and space professionally while continuing to support each other personally."

However, a few months later, they reconciled. In December 2024, Loreal Sarkisian was back on the stands during UT Austin’s gameday, supporting the team and her coach husband. During her interview with WFAA, she praised Steve for his dedication to the craft and called him a true master.

“I get to see him all day, every day, authentic self… It matters to him. I respect it and I appreciate that, knowing how hard he works at it day in and day out and what it actually means to him, and especially the journey he’s been on to this day personally and professionally,” Loreal added.

A devout Christian, Loreal Sarkisian is also a philanthropist who is associated with nonprofits such as The Kindness Campaign, The UGLI Foundation, Runway of Dreams, and Dress for Success. She is also building her own 501(c)(3) charitable venture. She currently has over 141,000 followers on Instagram..

Loreal Sarkisian shares her difficult pregnancy journey

In a recent video, Loreal Sarkisian told her YouTube followers that her son had a low chance of survival. However, she took the advice of the doctor, went on permanent bedrest after the first trimester, to give the “best chance” to live, should he “come early.”

The now-mother-of-one explained that she tried to keep Amays inside her for as long as possible. However, her water broke prematurely, and the baby’s heart rate dropped, so he had to be delivered urgently.

“No one really talked about the sucky side of pregnancy, and I think that was also what was not helpful for me in pregnancy. Like, ‘Oh, you’re pregnant! You’re glowing! Everything’s great! You look beautiful!’ Actually, it’s like. I’m actually really miserable,” Loreal explained.

Mrs. Sarkisian shared that, being on bed rest to deal with her complicated pregnancy, she felt “robbed” of certain aspects of it. However, looking back, she’s glad that she was able to “protect” herself and her baby. Loreal Sarkisian mentioned being regretful of not having experienced a natural childbirth.

But now, she was both “grateful and happy” that she and her son were “alive and well.” Loreal stated that her “reality” was that she dealt with “both sides of things.” In the end, she hoped that her story would inspire others to embrace the good and bad parts of pregnancy.

“Outside of my salvation, the next greatest gift the Lord has given me in a child. A son whom I am so obsessed with. I love him dearly. One of the purest loves I have ever had,” she added.

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Elsewhere, Loreal Sarkisian mentioned that for a long time, until her late 30s, she was sad about not having children. At one point, she decided to stop trying and be the “best auntie ever,” if she didn’t become a mom by 40. She revealed accepting that maybe motherhood “wasn’t in the cards for me.”

Loreal and Steve’s son Amays is now 4 months old.

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