Steve Sarkisian
Track Record:
El Camino College (QBs) — 2000
USC (QBs) — 2001-03
Oakland Raiders (QBs) — 2004
USC (QBs) — 2005-06
USC (OC/Assistant HC/QBs) — 2007-08
Washington (HC) — 2009-13
USC (HC) — 2014-15
Alabama (Offensive analyst/interim OC) — 2016
Atlanta Falcons (OC) — 2017-present
Pros: If you’re looking for someone with play-calling experience at the Power Five level, head coaching experience, NFL experience, and a proven track record as a recruiter, Steve Sarkisian checks all those boxes. He helped improve USC’s offense as their OC, and he took over a Washington team that in 2008 had one of the worst offenses in college football and ended up making them a top-25 offense by his third year. He shouldn’t be a head coach, but he’s shown he can call plays at the college level and have success. And he helped turn around Washington’s recruiting while there as well.
Cons: While Sarkisian’s off-field issues may not be as polarizing as Hugh Freeze’s or Kendal Briles’, he still has issues that need addressing. He’s a recovering alcoholic (which is good), but he let those drinking issues keep him from doing his job at USC, and he was fired from there because of the issues his drinking caused. He’s also been downright bad at managing Atlanta’s offense in the NFL and is likely to be fired from that job soon.
