"Get the help you need" - When Steve Sarkisian had to rebuild his image after humbling Southern Cal exit

Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian is one of the most highly-rated coaches in college football after leading his team to a Big 12 championship and the semifinal of the College Football Playoff last season. But it wasn't always so rosy, as his reputation took a hit after he was fired from his USC Trojans coaching job in 2015 due to issues with alcohol after he slurred his words during a news conference.

While appearing in a 2021 segment on "KVUE," the Longhorns coach spoke about rebuilding his image in college football.

"Anytime you go through something like I went through and you make the personal decision to get the help that you know you need, it's a process to get that done," Steve Sarkisian said.

"When you're sitting in a young man's living room or when you have a young man on your team that is going through something, you have real-life experience to lean on just like I have that I think they can relate to.

"That they can value, that I'm being sincere with them and, at the end of the day, that they can recognize the work that you put in, who you are, and how you treat people. So, I'm proud of the work that I've done, but I will say, when you've battled what I've battled, you have to work on it every day."

Steve Sarkisian was saved by Nick Saban

After Steve Sarkisian was fired by the USC Trojans in 2015, his reputation was in tatters until now-retired Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban took him into what is now commonly referred to as "Saban's carwash." He hired him as an offensive analyst in Tuscaloosa in 2016 before being promoted to interim offensive coordinator (2016) and finally full-time OC in 2019.

During the 2024 SEC media days, Sarkisian paid tribute to Saban for the impact he had on his career by hiring him.

“No one have you (Saban) impacted more than me," Steve Sarkisian said. "I would not be standing here today without you and what you’ve meant to my career, and to my life. I can’t thank you enough.

"And the impact that you’ve had on our game has been second to none, and I just can’t thank you enough. I want to be able to do that publicly for you, Coach. Thank you very, very much.”

Steve Sarkisian has led the Longhorns to the No. 1 ranking this season, and despite being beaten by another of Nick Saban's proteges, Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs in Week 8, Texas is still one of the teams expected to win major honors this season.