According to a new tell-all book, the Alabama Crimson Tide had some high tensions within the coaching staff when Lane Kiffin was the team’s offensive coordinator from 2014-2016.
While Kiffin has nothing but positive things to say about Saban now, the pair would butt heads frequently when Kiffin was running Saban’s offense.
Michael Casagrande of AL.com shared a quote from the new book by Armen Keteyian and John Talty in which Saban called his agent, Jimmy Sexton (who also represents Kiffin) to threaten to fire Sexton as a result of his push for Saban to hire Kiffin.
“That son of a b*tch,” Saban said to Sexton of Kiffin on a call, according to the book. “I’m going to fire you, Jimmy, forever talking me into hiring that narcissistic pr*ck.”
Another quote shared was from a separate conversation also relating to Kiffin. In it, Saban took issue with the offensive coordinator proclaiming him the only assistant daring to question the legendary coach’s methods.
“I ain’t never had a f—— coach I can’t control,” Saban apparently told the assistant.
While clearly it was a process of getting on the same page, the two have offered nothing but praise for each other, at least publicly.
Saban and Kiffin certainly share an interesting and unique professional and personal relationship, but at the end of the day, it appears to be all respect between the two.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
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