Nick Saban statement on Steve Sarkisian leaving for Falcons

Nick Saban (left) and Steve Sarkisian coached together at Alabama for just one game.

Credit: Tom Pennington

Credit: Tom Pennington

Nick Saban (left) and Steve Sarkisian coached together at Alabama for just one game.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban issued a statement Tuesday following the news that Steve Sarkisian is leaving Alabama to become the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator.

Sarkisian,42, replaced Lane Kiffin who left Alabama before the national championship game to coach Florida Atlantic.

Sarkisian,who joined the Tide in September as an offensive analyst, coached one game as the Tide's offensive coordinator, Alabama's loss to Clemson in the national championship game.

Sarkisian has been the head coach at Washington and USC. He was dismissed by USC in 2015.

Saban said of Sarkisian:

"We appreciate all Coach Sarkisian did for our program during his time here.

"He is an outstanding coach, and we wish him the best in his new role as Atlanta's offensive coordinator. As always, when we have an opening on our staff, we will use it as an opportunity to go out and hire the best coach available."

Sarkisian will replace Kyle Shanahan, who left Atlanta to become head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.