Texas didn’t wait long to hire Tom Herman’s replacement, as the Longhorns announced on Saturday that they had agreed to a deal with Alabama’s offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.
Sarkisian, who won the Broyles Award as FBS principal assistant, will remain with the No. 1 Crimson Tide to train against the No. 3 Ohio State at the College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T on January 11 (8 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN App ), sources told ESPN.
“This is a unique and attractive opportunity to take this historic program to the next level, competing once again among the best in college football,” said Sarkisian of joining Longhorns.
The Longhorns’ announcement came about five hours after the school unexpectedly said it had fired Herman, who made 32-18 in Texas and 7-3 this season, culminating in a victory over Colorado at the Valero Alamo Bowl on Tuesday. market.
Sarkisian, who is earning $ 2.5 million a season on Nick Saban’s team with Crimson Tide, declined an interview with Auburn in his search for chief coach last month and declined the position of Colorado chief coach last year past.
He is the first assistant coach hired by Texas to lead his program since 1951, when the Longhorns promoted Ed Price to the position.
Texas did not immediately release details of the Sarkisian deal. The Longhorns will owe Herman about $ 15 million to buy the final three years of their contract. Longhorns will owe about another $ 10 million to purchase the remaining contracts from their assistants, which are guaranteed multi-year deals.
“The hiring of Steve Sarkisian represents a critical investment in the future of our football program, not just for our student-athletes, but for the entire Longhorn Nation,” said university president Jay Hartzell. “Our entire community benefits from a healthy and successful athletics program, and naming Steve as our coach infuses our football program with the guidance and experience necessary to drive success.”
Sarkisian, 46, was the USC quarterback coach on January 4, 2006, when Vince Young led the Longhorns to a 41-38 victory over the No. 1 USC in the BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl, ending the Trojans’ victory for 34 games to the letter. It was Texas’ first national title since 1970.
“There has always been something special about Longhorn football, its history and traditions – not just that day – and I could never imagine that, 15 years later, I would join the Longhorns as their head coach,” said Sarkisian.
Sarkisian trained Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones in Alabama. He was 46-35 combined during stints as a coach at USC and Washington.
His tenure at USC ended badly when then-athletic director Pat Haden fired him over alcohol problems. At the time, ESPN reported that Haden had put Sarkisian on a zero-tolerance policy towards alcohol use. He went into rehab after his resignation.
Sarkisian worked as an offensive coordinator for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in 2017 and 18 before returning to Alabama in 2019.
“Steve Sarkisian is one of the most offensive minds in football, which he proved several times during his time at USC, Atlanta and, most recently, Alabama,” said Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte in a statement. “We are confident that our players and coaches will thrive under your leadership and in response to your energy and passion for the game.”
This will be the sixth time that Alabama has competed in a national championship with a coordinator on his way out of coaching, since 2011, when offensive coordinator Jim McElwain accepted the position of Colorado State.
Texas and Alabama are scheduled to play a series at home and at home in 2022 and 2023.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and Chris Low contributed to this report.