Nick Saban on Steve Sarkisian: 'I Was Glad I Gave Him a Second Chance'

Sarkisian worked under Saban twice at Alabama — as an analyst in 2016 and as offensive coordinator from 2019-2020.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama head coach Nick Saban has had a wide array of coordinators and analysts over the years in Tuscaloosa. Saban has brought up younger coaches through his coaching tree — he has also helped to rehabilitate proven coaches' careers at times.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is just one of the names that has come through Tuscaloosa to restart his career — and it has paid huge dividends. Now, Sarkisian brings his 11th-ranked Longhorns into Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night for the first time since he left the program following the 2020-21 national championship season.

"I think Sark is one of the best coaches we’ve ever been around when it comes to offense," Saban said. "He’s got a great disposition with players, he’s a great teacher. He’s got a great understanding of the game, really understands defense and how to attack defenses but has some really good concepts on offense that are hard to defend, understands how to present them in different ways so that maybe whatever you practiced, it doesn’t really come up that way in a game, which makes it more difficult for defensive players."

"Sark did a great job here for us. He’s doing a great job in Texas and it’s gonna be a very challenging game. They recruit well, they coach well. They’ve got good players and they’re well-coached."

Saban brought Sarkisian in following his firing from USC. After what transpired during Sarkisian's fallout in Los Angeles, many wouldn't have taken a chance on him.

Saban did — and he's glad he did.

"I like giving people second chances," Saban said. "I think that their willingness to do the right things and whatever their mistakes were, they’re trying to fix it and look for an opportunity. Geez, when Sark was here the first time he did such a good job, there was no question about the fact that we’d love to have him back a second time. He represented the program well, he’s first class in every way, so I was glad I gave him a second chance. I’m glad that he came here, whether it was an analyst or whatever, proved that he could do a good job and went on to Atlanta to be the coordinator and came back here to be the coordinator so it’s great."

Friends will turn into foes on Saturday night when Saban's Crimson Tide meets up with Sarkisian's Longhorns. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

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