Steve Sarkisian not only coaches one of the nation’s top college football offenses, he’s also the game’s top assistant.
The former BYU quarterback, now Alabama’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, was named the 2020 Broyles Award winner on Monday. The award is given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.
BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes was also one of five finalists for the award, along with Cincinnati defensive coordinator/LB coach Marcus Freeman, Indiana defensive coordinator/LB coach Kane Wommack and Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz.
Under Sarkisian’s leadership, the Crimson Tide are first nationally in third-down conversion percentage (59.2), second in scoring offense (49.7 points per game) and fifth in total offense (543.9 yards per game). Quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver Devonta Smith are among four Heisman Trophy finalists, and running back Najee Harris finished fifth in the Heisman voting.
Sarkisian is in the second year of his second stint on Nick Saban’s staff. Top-ranked Alabama faces No. 4 Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl — being played in Arlington, Texas, because of COVID-19 issues — on Jan. 1 in one of two College Football Playoff semifinals.