Alabama names Steve Sarkisian as new offensive coordinator
Steve Sarkisian was announced as the University of Alabama’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Friday evening in a press release. He will replace Lane Kiffin following the conclusion of the season, when Kiffin departs to begin work as head coach at Florida Atlantic.
“He has a great track record and has done a really, really good job wherever he's been, whether it was as the coordinator at Southern Cal or as the quarterbacks coach,” UA head coach Nick Saban said after practice on Friday. “He has a history of developing quarterbacks as well as being a very good play-caller and a well-organized, good designer of offense. He's been here with us all fall and done a really good job, so that makes the transition a lot easier. I wouldn't have anybody in this organization that I didn't have total faith, trust and confidence in that they would do a good job with our players.”
Sarkisian has been a member of the Alabama staff since September, when he was hired midseason as an offensive analyst. His salary in that role was $35,000.
“I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to join Coach Saban’s staff, and I can’t thank the University of Alabama enough,” Sarkisian said in the release. “I have always admired the Alabama program from afar, and getting to be part of this football team these past few months has only reinforced my belief that this is the best college football organization in the country. There are many outstanding coaches and athletes at the University of Alabama, and I am extremely excited to start working with them in my new role. This is a very special place to have the opportunity to coach when you consider the program’s rich tradition and the unrivaled passion of the fan base.”
Sarkisian arrived at Alabama after being fired as head coach at Southern Cal, much like Kiffin did three years ago. He was 12-6 as head coach of the Trojans in 2014 and 2015. Multiple reports said his dismissal was related to problems with alcohol. Sarkisian subsequently sued the school for wrongful termination; the case was later moved to arbitration.
“We have a lot of support people here for our players,” Saban said. “We have support folks for anybody in our organization. We’re going to use all the support staff that we have to design – professionally, I’m not talking about me, I’m talking about professionals – which has been in place since the guy came here. And we’re going to continue to do that.
"Those people are going to help him the best that we can. We have players that need help, we have players that need support, we have people in our family who we are going to always help everybody that has issues or problems. I’ll say it again, I would not have anybody in this organization that I didn’t have confidence in that they would do a good job for our players. And that’s how the decision gets made.”
Before becoming head coach at USC, he was 34-29 in five years as head coach at Washington. He led the Huskies to bowl games in each of his last four years.
He was an assistant coach at Southern Cal from 2005-08, serving as offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008 and coaching the quarterbacks all four seasons. He was quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2004. Sarkisian's first stint at USC came from 2001-03, when he coached Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. His coaching career began as quarterbacks coach at El Camino Community College from 2000-01. He started at quarterback for BYU in 1995-96.