With Lane Kiffin headed off to Florida Atlantic after the playoffs, Alabama is in the market for a new offensive coordinator.

Might the USC pipeline supply another top assistant to the Crimson Tide?

Multiple reports have suggested that Coach Nick Saban will promote from within. And that could be good news for Steve Sarkisian, who joined the team as an offensive consultant earlier this season.

“Look, I’ve known him for a long time and he’s a very, very good coach,” Saban said in September.


Sarkisian grew up in the coaching ranks with Kiffin, the two of them working under Pete Carroll in the Trojans program.

Sarkisian was the head man at Washington for five seasons before returning to the Trojans for a now-infamous one-plus season that ended with his firing amid erratic behavior and alcohol-related issues.

Other potential candidates for the Alabama job include Crimson Tide receivers coach Billy Napier and another team consultant, Mike Locksley.

david.wharton@latimes.com


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