In this episode of Next Up with Adam Breneman, Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion opens up like never before. From being broke in his 20s to getting passed over for head coaching jobs—including his own alma mater—Marion has stayed true to himself, even when it cost him opportunities. Now he’s one of the most innovative minds in football.
Marion shares 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 dives deep into creating the Go-Go Offense—a system built to win even without top-tier talent—and the grit it took to build it from nothing. He and Adam talk about the broken parts of the current NIL (name, image, and likeness) system, how a head coach has to balance being loved by players with making ruthless decisions, and what fans don’t understand about the business of college football.