Thursday afternoon update> Source tells FootballScoop after meeting with Nick Saban at the Alabama football office, Sark has removed himself from the process with CU.
Original article>
Steve Sarkisian is a strong candidate for the vacant head coaching position at Colorado alongside Bret Bielema and Troy Calhoun, sources told FootballScoop on Thursday.
An early favorite for the job, Sarkisian remains firmly in the running as sources indicate Colorado is nearing a hire, possibly as early as today.
Sarkisian is currently the offensive coordinator at Alabama, a job he's held for one year after running the Atlanta Falcons' offense for two years.
Colorado would represent a return to the Pac-12 for the California native. Sarkisian went 34-29 in five seasons at Washington and 12-6 in a season and a half at USC; he was fired mid-year in the 2015 season for appearing drunk on the job. Sarkisian later sued USC for wrongful termination but that suit was unsuccessful.
If Sarkisian becomes the hire, it would represent the ultimate Circle of Saban. He would replace another former Saban aide in Mel Tucker, who left after Saban assisted his former employer, Michigan State, after another former Saban assistant, Mark Dantonio, retired on Feb. 4.
Sarkisian would become the third consecutive Alabama offensive coordinator to rebound into a head coaching position after firings elsewhere, following Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss via Florida Atlantic) and Mike Locksley (Maryland).
If hired, Sarkisian would become the 10th former Saban assistant working as an active FBS head coach.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.