How a Coaching Sabbatical Shaped Arizona State's Marcus Arroyo

The Power of a Coaching Sabbatical

Years ago, I learned that Nike offered sabbaticals to employees after 10 years of service. It made perfect sense - stepping away allowed them to recharge, gain new perspectives, and pour into their families. In the coaching profession, I’ve always believed sabbaticals should be the norm. Every coach I’ve met who has taken a year off, whether by choice or due to job circumstances, has experienced tremendous growth.

Pete Carroll famously reinvented his coaching philosophy during his year off. Chip Kelly, Dan Mullen, Urban Meyer, and Bill Belichick all spent time in TV roles before returning to head coaching jobs. These high-profile examples highlight individuals that went from head coaching job to another.

Today’s Y-Option Podcast, presented by our founding partner 76, is with Arizona State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo. After an extensive coaching career in both college football and the NFL, Marcus found himself on an unexpected “sabbatical” in 2023 following his time as head coach at UNLV. Instead of viewing it as a setback, he saw it as an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Marcus, a Broyles Award finalist in 2024, has coached standout quarterbacks like Josh McCown, Mason Rudolph, Nick Mullens, Justin Herbert, and most recently, Sam Leavitt. In December 2019, he achieved a lifelong dream when he was named head coach of the Rebels. Just months later, COVID-19 changed everything, forcing him to navigate unprecedented challenges. Fast forward three years, and his time away from the game would reshape his career.

During his sabbatical, Marcus built a structured calendar to maximize learning. He visited top programs, including the LA Rams, LA Chargers, NY Giants, Texas Longhorns, and Utah Utes. He redesigned his entire playbook, a process that played a pivotal role in ASU’s rise to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth in 2024.

Inside the Episode:

* In our conversation, Marcus and I dive into his mentors, his “why,” and the profound impact of his sabbatical. He shares what truly matters most, his nonnegotiables for quarterback play, how Sam Leavitt thrived under Kenny Dillingham at ASU and the math needed to fill the shoes of All-American Cam Skattebo. Of course, we also talk about 4th-down decisions and the mentality behind calling big-time plays in critical moments.

More from Y-Option:

* Beyond my conversation with Marcus, Jim Thornby and I continue our deep dive into the quarterback position as the Big 12 returns 10 of the conference’s top 11 leading passers from last season, including Arizona’s Noah Fifita, BYU’s Jake Retzlaff, and Kansas State’s Avery Johnson.

* Additionally, I reflect on my time in Boulder with Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes while speaking at the Nike Coach of the Year Clinic.

As always, we are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Y-Option as we pour into this newsletter and podcast during the offseason.

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

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