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Disgraced and Discarded, Sarkisian Now Part of Alabama Future with Kiffin, Saban
By Matt Hayes, Contributor Sep 5, 2016
as an offensive analyst. From a job that paid $4 million a year as head coach at USC, to one that pays maybe one percent of his former salary.
"We're glad to have him as part of the organization," Alabama head coach Nick Saban told reporters of Sarkisian on Monday.
There's your ringing endorsement, one that supersedes any question or lingering doubt over Sarkisian's 11-month layoff from the coaching profession. Because when the game's best coach decides it's time for you to rehabilitateālike he did nearly three years ago with another USC castoff, Lane Kiffināit doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
It doesn't matter if university presidents and athletic directors think Sarkisian is too toxic after getting fired from USC for erratic behavior problems stemming from alleged substance abuse. It doesn't matter if many members of the coaching fraternity are offended by the way Sarkisian avoided responsibility in the way it all ended at USC.
"Everybody deserves second chances. I guess he deserves a second chanceāor is it a third chance? Or whatever he has had," Western Kentucky defensive coordinator Nick Holt said. "I generally hope the best for all people. But I don't think I want to talk about [Sarkisian]."
Holt coached with Sarkisian at USC (both were assistants) and at Washington, where he was Sarkisian's defensive coordinator for two seasons before being fired. While it's easy to say the way their work relationship and friendship ended is clouding Holt's judgment, he's not alone in how he feels.
Much of the contempt among the coaching fraternityāand the uneasy concept of hiring Sarkisian for anyone not named Sabanāstems from Sarkisian's "disability discrimination" lawsuit, in arbitration since March, that alleges USC knew he had a substance-abuse problem and didn't allow him to seek treatment before returning to coach.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Nick Saban gave Kiffin's career new life at Alabama, and the Crimson Tide are reaping the rewards. Now he's trying a similar formula with Sarkisian.
It was Sarkisian who, days after his slurred speech and inappropriate language at a booster event prior to last season earned him a reprimand from USC, stepped to the dais at a press conference and declared he didn't have a drinking problemābut that he would seek treatment even though he "doesn't need it."
Less than six weeks later, he was fired by USC for more erratic behavior stemming from alleged substance abuse. Two months after that, the lawsuit was filed and is still pending in arbitration.
"Are you kidding me? Go get help, do it the right way, come back humble with your hat in your hand," one Power Five coach said. "A disability? That's an insult to the disabled community."
One Power Five athletic director said, "There's no way you could sell [Sarkisian] to your [university] president, much less your fanbase."
Unless, that is, you're Saban.
Because what you seeāwhat seemingly everyone in the college football community seesāisn't what Saban has zeroed in on. While you're stuck in the here and now, Saban already is organizing the future.
Kiffin's work with the Alabama offenseāhe developed two fifth-year senior castoff quarterbacks into the SEC elite in his first two seasons and has a true freshman ready to play this fallāwill eventually lead to another head coaching job. Maybe even as soon as 2017.
See where this is headed?
"If Sark doesn't screw it up," one SEC source said, "he's the next [offensive] coordinator [at Alabama]."
That's what this oddly timed hire is all about. Not some idea that Sarkisian gives the Tide another pair of eyes to break down game tape.
This is about the next Alabama offensive coordinator and the next rehabilitation project for college football's best coach.
"We're going to continue to help him in his program as an organization," Saban told reporters.
And by "help," he means get Sarkisian ready to coach again.
According to one SEC source, Kiffin has pushed the idea of Sarkisian for months, selling Saban on the thought that Kiffin and Sarkisian are of the same mindset and believe in the same offensive philosophies.
Kiffin and Sarkisian worked together as co-offensive coordinators at USC under Pete Carroll, and it was Sarkisian, not Kiffin, whom then-Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis wanted to coach his team in 2007.
After interviewing and declining the offer, Sarkisian offered Kiffin up to Davis, who hired Kiffin to begin a bizarre story of a coach falling upward after each failure.
Years later, after Kiffin bombed with the Raiders and scorched Tennessee in one season and didn't make it through four seasons at USC, Sarkisian followed him to USCābut only after Kiffin gave him his blessing.
"We talked a lot about the job and about it possibly affecting our friendship," Sarkisian told me prior to last season. "He just wanted what was best for me. We've always had that kind of relationship."
Now Kiffin is helping his friend once again.
Norm Hall/Getty Images
Sarkisian's personal problems derailed him at USC after his success as a coach and recruiter got him the top job.
But make no mistakeāthis isn't a charity case. Before his substance-abuse issues derailed his job at USC, Sarkisian was considered one of the game's best young coaches and a fantastic recruiter. You know, the two thingsāin that orderāSaban desires most.
Sarkisian rebuilt a Washington program that had fallen to the bottom of the Pac-12 when he arrived in 2009. The Huskies were winless in 2008 and, after winning five games in 2009, won 30 games over the next four seasons before Sarkisian left for USC. He developed elite quarterbacks (Jake Locker, Keith Price), and the Washington offense ranked 13th in the nation in total offense and 18th in scoring offense in his final season.
Late last season during Alabama's College Football Playoff run, Kiffin spoke briefly about Sarkisian and his future in the game. He danced delicately around the subject, almost as if he knew he would eventually try to sell his boss on another rehabilitation project.
"He's my friend; I want the best for him," Kiffin said. "He's also a really good coach. I hope he gets the help he needs."
Sarkisian just got a big hand up from the only guys who could offer it.
The only question now: Does he follow Kiffin's pathāthe only pathāand make the most of it?
Disgraced and Discarded, Sarkisian Now Part of Alabama Future with Kiffin, Saban | Bleacher Report
By Matt Hayes, Contributor Sep 5, 2016
as an offensive analyst. From a job that paid $4 million a year as head coach at USC, to one that pays maybe one percent of his former salary.
"We're glad to have him as part of the organization," Alabama head coach Nick Saban told reporters of Sarkisian on Monday.
There's your ringing endorsement, one that supersedes any question or lingering doubt over Sarkisian's 11-month layoff from the coaching profession. Because when the game's best coach decides it's time for you to rehabilitateālike he did nearly three years ago with another USC castoff, Lane Kiffināit doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
It doesn't matter if university presidents and athletic directors think Sarkisian is too toxic after getting fired from USC for erratic behavior problems stemming from alleged substance abuse. It doesn't matter if many members of the coaching fraternity are offended by the way Sarkisian avoided responsibility in the way it all ended at USC.
"Everybody deserves second chances. I guess he deserves a second chanceāor is it a third chance? Or whatever he has had," Western Kentucky defensive coordinator Nick Holt said. "I generally hope the best for all people. But I don't think I want to talk about [Sarkisian]."
Holt coached with Sarkisian at USC (both were assistants) and at Washington, where he was Sarkisian's defensive coordinator for two seasons before being fired. While it's easy to say the way their work relationship and friendship ended is clouding Holt's judgment, he's not alone in how he feels.
Much of the contempt among the coaching fraternityāand the uneasy concept of hiring Sarkisian for anyone not named Sabanāstems from Sarkisian's "disability discrimination" lawsuit, in arbitration since March, that alleges USC knew he had a substance-abuse problem and didn't allow him to seek treatment before returning to coach.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Nick Saban gave Kiffin's career new life at Alabama, and the Crimson Tide are reaping the rewards. Now he's trying a similar formula with Sarkisian.
It was Sarkisian who, days after his slurred speech and inappropriate language at a booster event prior to last season earned him a reprimand from USC, stepped to the dais at a press conference and declared he didn't have a drinking problemābut that he would seek treatment even though he "doesn't need it."
Less than six weeks later, he was fired by USC for more erratic behavior stemming from alleged substance abuse. Two months after that, the lawsuit was filed and is still pending in arbitration.
"Are you kidding me? Go get help, do it the right way, come back humble with your hat in your hand," one Power Five coach said. "A disability? That's an insult to the disabled community."
One Power Five athletic director said, "There's no way you could sell [Sarkisian] to your [university] president, much less your fanbase."
Unless, that is, you're Saban.
Because what you seeāwhat seemingly everyone in the college football community seesāisn't what Saban has zeroed in on. While you're stuck in the here and now, Saban already is organizing the future.
Kiffin's work with the Alabama offenseāhe developed two fifth-year senior castoff quarterbacks into the SEC elite in his first two seasons and has a true freshman ready to play this fallāwill eventually lead to another head coaching job. Maybe even as soon as 2017.
See where this is headed?
"If Sark doesn't screw it up," one SEC source said, "he's the next [offensive] coordinator [at Alabama]."
That's what this oddly timed hire is all about. Not some idea that Sarkisian gives the Tide another pair of eyes to break down game tape.
This is about the next Alabama offensive coordinator and the next rehabilitation project for college football's best coach.
"We're going to continue to help him in his program as an organization," Saban told reporters.
And by "help," he means get Sarkisian ready to coach again.
According to one SEC source, Kiffin has pushed the idea of Sarkisian for months, selling Saban on the thought that Kiffin and Sarkisian are of the same mindset and believe in the same offensive philosophies.
Kiffin and Sarkisian worked together as co-offensive coordinators at USC under Pete Carroll, and it was Sarkisian, not Kiffin, whom then-Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis wanted to coach his team in 2007.
After interviewing and declining the offer, Sarkisian offered Kiffin up to Davis, who hired Kiffin to begin a bizarre story of a coach falling upward after each failure.
Years later, after Kiffin bombed with the Raiders and scorched Tennessee in one season and didn't make it through four seasons at USC, Sarkisian followed him to USCābut only after Kiffin gave him his blessing.
"We talked a lot about the job and about it possibly affecting our friendship," Sarkisian told me prior to last season. "He just wanted what was best for me. We've always had that kind of relationship."
Now Kiffin is helping his friend once again.
Norm Hall/Getty Images
Sarkisian's personal problems derailed him at USC after his success as a coach and recruiter got him the top job.
But make no mistakeāthis isn't a charity case. Before his substance-abuse issues derailed his job at USC, Sarkisian was considered one of the game's best young coaches and a fantastic recruiter. You know, the two thingsāin that orderāSaban desires most.
Sarkisian rebuilt a Washington program that had fallen to the bottom of the Pac-12 when he arrived in 2009. The Huskies were winless in 2008 and, after winning five games in 2009, won 30 games over the next four seasons before Sarkisian left for USC. He developed elite quarterbacks (Jake Locker, Keith Price), and the Washington offense ranked 13th in the nation in total offense and 18th in scoring offense in his final season.
Late last season during Alabama's College Football Playoff run, Kiffin spoke briefly about Sarkisian and his future in the game. He danced delicately around the subject, almost as if he knew he would eventually try to sell his boss on another rehabilitation project.
"He's my friend; I want the best for him," Kiffin said. "He's also a really good coach. I hope he gets the help he needs."
Sarkisian just got a big hand up from the only guys who could offer it.
The only question now: Does he follow Kiffin's pathāthe only pathāand make the most of it?
Disgraced and Discarded, Sarkisian Now Part of Alabama Future with Kiffin, Saban | Bleacher Report
