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Alabama tabs Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator

By The Sports Xchange
Former USC coach Steve Sarkisian. (USC Athletics/YouTube)
Former USC coach Steve Sarkisian. (USC Athletics/YouTube)

Alabama hired Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator on Friday, the school announced.

Sarkisian joined the Crimson Tide as a coaching staff analyst in September. He replaces Lane Kiffin, who was named head coach at Florida Atlantic earlier this week.

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Sarkisian, 42, is attempting to resuscitate his coaching career after being fired at USC in 2015 due to alcohol-related issues. He also was previously the head coach at Washington.

"We are pleased to be able to hire an offensive coordinator with the pedigree and experience of Steve Sarkisian," Alabama coach Nick Saban said in a statement. "He has a tremendous offensive mind and is someone we believe will do a great job of teaching and developing our football team on the offensive side of the ball. He has been a great asset to our coaching staff this season and brings a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to his job.

"Steve will be a phenomenal addition to our coaching staff and someone who can seamlessly transition into the job with a full understanding of how our organization works."

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Sarkisian, who has a 46-35 career record as a head coach, was grateful to be selected to run the offense.

"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 statement. "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."

Sarkisian was a former college quarterback at Brigham Young and later developed a reputation as a top-notch offensive innovator while serving on USC's coaching staff under Pete Carroll.

He became Washington's coach in 2009 and went 34-29 in five seasons with the Huskies. Sarkisian moved on to USC and went 9-4 in 2014 in his first season but was removed as coach after five games in 2015 due to his struggles.

Sarkisian later sued USC, alleging the school wrongfully terminated him instead of allowing him to seek treatment for alcoholism.

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