TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Steve Sarkisian looked untouchable. Unable to be hired in the coaching profession. The way he left USC was a mess. There were allegations of
drinking on the job and an
unceremonious firing in the middle of the season.
But in less than a year, Sarkisian has somehow gone from radioactive to an
analyst on staff at Alabama. Starting this week, heāll work alongside his old friend, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who knows a thing or two about being thrown on the trash heap of unemployed coaches. Sarkisian learned he was fired by USC in an email he couldnāt access until the plane he was on landed. Two years earlier, Kiffin had been fired by USC after he walked off the team plane in Los Angeles.
And weāve seen how well Kiffin has worked out. Weāre talking two 3,000-yard passers, two SEC titles, a Heisman Trophy winner and a national championship. Weāre talking a
52-6 drubbing of USC on Saturday.
Nick Saban, you see, doesnāt care about how things look. He doesnāt read press clippings. He doesnāt bother assessing baggage. If you can coach, and if you can bring something to his staff at Alabama, then heāll consider hiring you. Optics be damned.
This is nothing new, either. Even before Kiffin, Saban has brought on seemingly radioactive coaches. Tosh Lupoi had the cloud of an NCAA investigation over his head when Saban hired him as an analyst; now heās Alabamaās linebackers coach and one of its best recruiters. Kevin Steele had the reputation of a failure as a head coach at Baylor and then as defensive coordinator at Clemson before Saban added him to the personnel department. He eventually became an assistant coach, was hired away as defensive coordinator at LSU and this offseason took more money to go to Auburn.
Thatās not to say that every one of Sabanās gambles has worked. You look at the way he took a chance on former Georgia defensive lineman Jonathan Taylor, and that obviously didnāt pay off. Taylor didnāt make it to preseason camp before he was dismissed.
But looking at the big picture, Saban sees more success stories than failures. He trusts the organization heās set up at Alabama, which is as robust and as clearly defined a structure as youāll find in college football.
He isnāt going into this deal with Sarkisian blind. Heās known him a long time, as has Kiffin.
When Saban spoke to the media on Monday, you'll notice that he didnāt say that Sarkisian is done dealing with what he called āpersonal things.ā Rather, he referred to it as an ongoing process, one he feels he can play a role in.
āWeāre going to continue to help him in his program as an organization,ā Saban said, āand weāll support him when he has an opportunity.ā
He added: āI think he understands the consequences that he deals with professionally if he has any issues or problems. ... Hopefully heāll be able to get back on his feet.ā
Make no mistake, though, this is not a handout. Saban wouldnāt be taking a risk on Sarkisian if he didnāt feel it was worth it. Heāll be expected to help Alabamaās offense improve, putting in time in the film room and in staff meetings.
Will it pay off? Will Sarkisian get his life back on track in Tuscaloosa? Who knows?
But one thing is certain: When the rest of the world sees reason to be cautious, Saban sees opportunity.
In hiring Steve Sarkisian, Nick Saban proves he doesn't see baggage, only opportunity
