| Saban eyes Garrett TUSCALOOSA - New Alabama football coach Nick Saban has offered Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach Jason Garrett a job as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator, a source with knowledge of the process said Wednesday.
Garrett, a Princeton graduate, is a 40-year-old former NFL quarterback who has been an NFL assistant for two seasons. He has never been a coordinator.
Also, former Houston Texans coaches Joe Pendry and Steve Marshall have joined the UA staff, a source said.
Pendry has been a coordinator for three NFL teams, but his position at UA was not clear. He could be offensive co-coordinator with Garrett, or he could coach quarterbacks. Marshall, a former offensive coordinator at Texas A&M and North Carolina, will coach the offensive line.
Both Pendry and Marshall - close friends who were out of football this year - have yet to be announced by the school.
Saban has also offered the job of tight ends/special teams coach to former Auburn star Ron Middleton, a source said. The current Tampa Bay assistant is an Atmore native who played 10 years in the NFL.
The school has officially announced only three assistants: Kevin Steele, Kirby Smart, and Lance Thompson. None of their positions was identified, but Steele is believed to be the defensive coordinator, Smart will coach defensive backs, and Thompson's position was unclear.
Saban has hired Todd Alles, a former program assistant for Ohio State, as the director of football operations. That is the job formerly held by 17-year veteran Randy Ross, though a team could have several off-the-field positions. The NCAA maximum for on-field positions is nine.
Two Miami Dolphins coaches who received job offers from Saban - running backs coach Bobby Williams and outside linebackers coach Travis Jones - have turned Saban down, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Wednesday.
But the hiring of an offensive coordinator is considered the most crucial. One candidate previously contacted by Saban, Rice offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, has received interest from LSU.
Garrett, the son of former Princeton and Columbia football coach Jim Garrett, saw action in eight NFL seasons. He played seven seasons for the Cowboys and one for the New York Giants. He has been a full-time assistant for two seasons.
Garrett may be a candidate for the Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator position, though the Dolphins have yet to grant the Browns permission to interview him. Alabama, as a college team, did not need such permission.
If Garrett accepts the job, he could share coordinator duties with Pendry. A West Virginia native like Saban, Pendry also coached for two of Saban's mentors - George Perles and Frank Cignetti.
Pendry was the offensive coordinator of the Texans team in 2004 that allowed 50 sacks in one season. He was also a coordinator for the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers.
Saban met his team for the first time Wednesday. Neither Saban nor his players were available for comment following the meeting. |