Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have now held onto the same offensive coordinator, Steve Sarkisian, and defensive coordinator, Pete Golding for two seasons. However, a revolving door of assistant coaches is something Saban and fans are all too familiar with.
With the team being No. 1 in the nation, likely heading to the College Football Playoffs and recruiting enough talent to load the first round of the NFL draft, Saban’s coaching team is likely going to be viewed, if they aren’t already, by programs who currently have, or will have, head coaching vaccancies.
Golding, who received crticism for Alabama’s poor defensive performance to start the season, has had a strong showing in recent weeks, only allowing one touchdown in the last three games. While he is not currently being considered for a head coaching position at a major program, there are reports tying him to the Southern Mississippi job.
John Brice of FootballScoop.com reports that on a list of names to emerge as coaches on a “wish list,” Golding is one of the vetted potential candidates, and his time spent with Saban an the Crimson Tide are viewed highly.
Sarkisian is a bit more experienced in the realm of coaching outside of Alabama, especially being the head coach of a major program.
Having been the head coach at Washington, USC and even being an NFL offensive coordinator for the Falcons, Sarkisian knows what he could be in for when accepting a job with such high responsibility.
South Carolina, who fired head coach Will Muschamp in the middle of his fifth season with the Gamecocks, could have high interest in the Alabama offensive coordinator. ‘The State,’ a local newspaper published in Columbia, South Carolina, has already deemed him a “potential South Carolina football coach,” and published a piece detailing some facts about Sarkisian.
However, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit believes that Sarkisian could utilize this potential offer as a way to secure a raise at Alabama and remain with the program to one day hope to be Saban’s successor after he inevitably retires.
As of now, nothing is official and there have not been any actual reports, just rumors.
Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on any news regarding Steve Sarkisian or Pete Golding.