In what’s essentially become a tradition, Alabama head coach Nick Saban was asked about the familiarity a former assistant had with the Tide and how that’d factor into an upcoming game. This time, it was Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday night, Saban responded like he usually does. Aside from having to change a bit of terminology, it can actually be an advantage for Alabama when it gets to see a disciple of Saban’s coaching tree. And with No. 11 Texas coming to Tuscaloosa for Saturday night’s 6 p.m. kickoff, the roots go deeper than just Sark.

Sarkisian hired another former Alabama assistant, Kyle Flood, to be the Longhorns’ offensive coordinator in 2021. He also brought over analyst now co-offensive coordinator A.J. Milwee, as well as tight ends coach Jeff Banks. In June 2022, Texas added former Tide linebacker Nico Johnson as a grad assistant. Johnson started 20 games and was a part of the 2009, 2011 and 2012 BCS National Champion teams.

“Nico is a great person, smart player, was very productive here as a player. Has got great character. I think would be a great coach. He’s smart, he’s bright, he’s industrious, he’s a hard worker,” Saban said. “So I don’t think there’s any question about the fact that he would be an outstanding coach.”

He elaborated on the job Sarkisian did with the Tide — he was on Saban’s staff two different times, first as an offensive analyst in 2016 and the offensive coordinator in 2019-20 — and guided UA to an Iron Bowl win while Saban was quarantined in 2020.

“I think Sark is one of the best coaches we’ve ever been around when it comes to offense. He’s got a great disposition with players, he’s a great teacher. He’s got a great understanding of the game, really understands defense and how to attack defenses but has some really good concepts on offense that are hard to defend, understands how to present them in different ways so that maybe whatever you practiced, it doesn’t really come up that way in a game, which makes it more difficult for defensive players,” Saban said.

Sarkisian was viewed as one of Saban’s reclamation projects, helping get Sarkisian’s career back on track following a tumultuous two-year run as Southern California’s head coach. Sarkisian has openly said Saban “saved his career.”

“I like giving people second chances,” Saban said on Wednesday. “I think that their willingness to do the right things and whatever their mistakes were, they’re trying to fix it and look for an opportunity. Geez, when Sark was here the first time he did such a good job, there was no question about the fact that we’d love to have him back a second time. He represented the program well, he’s first class in every way, so I was glad I gave him a second chance. I’m glad that he came here.”

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].