Alabama coach Nick Saban said Tuesday it is an “ongoing process” to find a replacement for offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who was named head coach in Texas a week ago.
Former Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien has been Saban’s target and is considered one of the top candidates for the vacancy, sources told ESPN’s Chris Low.
Saban had planned to talk to several candidates about the job, sources said.
“I can’t make any predictions about our staff,” Saban told reporters Tuesday morning after Alabama beat Ohio State to win the National College Football Playoff Championship. “I think we have wonderful staff. I like the chemistry of our staff. We’re happy for Sark. I don’t know what other opportunities there will be for our coaches. We’ll just have to wait. I can’t answer that.
“It’s an ongoing process to find the right offensive coordinator. We’re definitely in the process of doing that.”
If Saban wanted to incorporate O’Brien as Sarkisian’s replacement, it would represent the second time Saban is looking for an offensive coordinator who previously worked with New England Patriots longtime friend and head coach Bill Belichick. The last one was Brian Daboll, former Patriots coach, in 2017.
O’Brien was an assistant to Belichick’s Patriots staff from 2007 to 2011 before taking up the job as head coach at Penn State, where he helped rebuild the program following the Jerry Sandusky scandal and subsequent sanctions. the NCAA.
O’Brien went from 15 to 9 in two seasons at Penn State before being hired as the Texans’ head coach. He was promoted to the role of general manager before the 2020 season, but was fired after a 0-4 start.
O’Brien was on campus last week and spent time on the show as Alabama prepared for the national championship game.
Anyone who replaces Sarkisian will have a high level.
In two seasons calling for plays, Sarkisian oversaw an average offense of 47.8 points and 526.6 yards per game.
ESPN’s Chris Low contributed to this story.