* Oh, and we have one more name — a proven recruiter with head coaching experience, enough motivation for two lifetimes and, we’d guess, a deep sense of loyalty.
Colorado should seriously consider Steve Sarkisian.
No, not that Steve Sarkisian; the other Steve Sarkisian …
Just kidding.
Yes, of course,
that Steve Sarkisian, the one dismissed by USC in the middle of the 2015 season because his personal life was a mess.
Welp, Sarkisian has gotten himself straightened out: He’s clean, sober and so committed to the craft that he calls the plays for Nick Saban.
Sarkisian just finished the first year of his second stint as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, with two years in the NFL in between.
He’s a good coach, always has been; his tenures at Washington and USC were derailed by addiction.
He’s also a terrific recruiter with deep ties to Southern California and Seattle and connections across the South.
Sarkisian’s recruits were at the heart of Washington’s run to the playoff in 2016 under Chris Petersen.
During his two recruiting seasons at USC, the Trojans signed Adoree Jackson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Sam Darnold.
In the 2019-20 cycle, Sarkisian was Alabama’s lead recruiter on Bryce Young, the five-star quarterback from Mater Dei who signed with the Crimson Tide.
Put Sarkisian in charge in Boulder, and the Buffaloes immediate enhance their presence in California and improve their chances to sign an elite quarterback in any given year.
And it stands to reason that Sarkisian would be highly motivated to prove himself and deeply loyal to Colorado for a second chance.
It’s a compelling narrative for the program, and we would guess, for recruits and their parents.
The risk, of course, is relapse: Sarkisian returns to the corner office and wilts under the pressure.
But there are risks with any of the hires: Chiaverini is a risk and Bieniemy is a risk and McElwain is a risk … they’re all risks.
Sarkisian’s upside is such that he’s worth a long look and multiple conversations, including conversations with Saban himself.
Maybe neither side gets to the point of full comfort:
Sarkisian doesn’t believe he’s ready for the pressure; George isn’t convinced it will work; the CU administration intervenes.
Or maybe they do reach that point of comfort and Sarkisian makes his story a story for the program:
Weakness and redemption, frailty and courage, recovery and accountability — it all become a very public part of the Buffaloes’ ethos.
It could be compelling stuff.
It would be a helluva hire.
Go ahead, CU. Make that first call. See where it leads.
Colorado’s coaching search: The ideal model, a list of names and one shot in the dark-turned-light