Steve Sarkisian coached just one game as Alabama's offensive coordinator. Promoted in between the College Football Playoff Semifinals and the CFP National Championship loss to Clemson, Sarkisian stepped into the spot where Lane Kiffin had experienced some "ass-chewings" working for Nick Saban.
In the days leading up to title game, Sarkisian emerged after a year away from the media ready to reboot his career with the Tide. He spoke confidently about moving forward, but privately things were still reportedly tense because of the unexpected swap in responsibilities just days before the biggest game of the season.
According to SB Nation's Steven Godfrey, that tension escalated after the game when Saban and Sarkisian started running into the same issues that had plagued the Saban-Kiffin relationship.
Multiple sources have confirmed to SB Nation that after meetings with Alabama head coach Nick Saban following the Championship, the relationship between Saban and Sarkisian deteriorated amid disagreements in 'system philosophy,' per one source ... both parties planned to move on following Signing Day last Wednesday, and Saban was aware of Sarkisian's contact with the Falcons.
With Sarkisian gone and National Signing Day done (another ho-hum No. 1 class for the Tide for the seventh-straight year), Saban and Alabama have a few weeks to work on finding a replacement before spring practice preparations begin in Tuscaloosa. There are options on the staff (Mike Locksley) and options for an outside hire (Mark Helfrich, Chip Kelly), but right now the only certainty is that whoever gets the job will need to be both systematically and philosophically on the same page as Saban.
Here's how Saban announced Sarkisian's departure, via an Alabama release:
"We appreciate all Coach Sarkisian did for our program during his time here. He is an outstanding coach, and we wish him the best in his new role as Atlanta's offensive coordinator. As always, when we have an opening on our staff, we will use it as an opportunity to go out and hire the best coach available."
