With Steve Sarkisian off to take the top coach job at Texas, Alabama will reportedly be changing him with a former NFL head coach. Such is life in Tuscaloosa lately.

Alabama is finalizing a take care of former Houstons Texans head coach (and normal supervisor) Invoice O’Brien to be the following offensive coordinator underneath Nick Saban, in accordance with ESPN. O’Brien reportedly spent Wednesday at Alabama’s amenities, and hung out with the staff main into the Faculty Soccer Playoff championship sport.

The deal comes three months after O’Brien was relieved of his duties with the Texans, setting him as much as be the newest fallen coach to burnish his popularity underneath Saban.

Invoice O’Brien returns to school soccer

Till just a few years in the past, O’Brien was well-regarded as a coach. He rose by means of the ranks to offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, then took over a Penn State program devastated by sanctions following the Gerry Sandusky scandal. O’Brien led the Nittany Lions to profitable information in each of his seasons on the helm regardless of restricted scholarships and a number of other transfers.

That success earned him a promotion to the NFL, the place he inherited a robust however underperforming roster in Houston. In seven seasons with Houston, O’Brien held a 52-48 report and led the staff to 4 division titles.

The place O’Brien faltered, nevertheless, was a enterprise into the staff’s entrance workplace. After the firing of normal supervisor Brian Gaine, O’Brien gained management of the staff’s personnel selections, and the outcomes are already notorious.

A Laremy Tunsil commerce that ended up costing the Texans the No. 3 decide within the 2021 NFL draft. A DeAndre Hopkins commerce that laid naked O’Brien’s collapsed relationship with one of many NFL’s finest receivers. An total scenario that has star quarterback Deshaun Watson occupied with demanding a commerce.

O’Brien solely formally grew to become normal supervisor in 2020, however he had been the staff’s de facto GM since June 2019, and his affect can nonetheless be felt by means of Jack Easterby, the previous Patriots chaplain O’Brien employed to be an govt regardless of a near-total lack of relevant expertise.

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Saban is effectively conscious of this historical past, and appears to be betting the O’Brien stays a robust coach, simply not a superb govt.

These sort of bets have definitely labored out for Saban previously.

Nick Saban’s teaching college will get a brand new pupil

Right here’s a enjoyable truth: the final time Alabama had an offensive coordinator that didn’t have prior NFL coordinating expertise was Doug Nussmeier in 2013.

Since then, it has been Lane Kiffin, who went on to the top teaching job at Ole Miss; Brian Daboll, who’s presently offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Payments and a scorching title on the NFL head coach market; and Sarkisian, who simply took over at Texas.

From former “analysts” like Butch Jones to coordinators, Saban has supplied a relaunching pad for a lot of coaches, and O’Brien is well-primed to proceed that custom.

Alabama stays stacked

Positive, Alabama is ready to lose Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith, beginning quarterback Mac Jones, Doak Walker Award winner Najee Harris, Outland Trophy winner Alex Leatherwood, Rimington Trophy winner Landon Dickerson and extra to the NFL draft.

They’ll be wonderful. It’s Alabama.

The Crimson Tide has loads of former blue-chip recruits ready within the wings, not least of all Bryce Younger, Rivals’ top-ranked dual-threat quarterback of the Class of 2020. O’Brien has fairly an act to observe up after what may need been the perfect school soccer staff of all time, however the good factor about Alabama is that he will certainly have the assets to do it.

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