College Football

Alabama Football: Mike Locksley Bama's Next Offensive Coordinator- Book It.

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:33 p.m. ET

Fansided, Bobby Wesson/FanSided via Bama Hammer

Steve Sarkisian is leaving Alabama Football to be the Atlanta Falcon’s Offensive Coordinator and Nick Saban already knows who will be taking his place.

Steve Sarkisian is out. Who’s in?

Mike Locksley. That’s who.

If you’ve been reading Bama Hammer you know I’ve already called this one – it just came a little earlier than I expected. Mike Locksley was hired to the same Offensive Analyst position that Sarkisian held prior to replacing Lane Kiffin as Bama’s Offensive Coordinator.

The only difference is that Mike Locksley was never really given an “official assignment” in the way we would normally expect. Although his Wiki has said wide receivers and tight ends coach at various times, the only rock solid word was that Locksley had been promoted to an ‘on field’ Offensive Assistant position.

I’m betting that on field position will now be as Alabama Football’s new Offensive Coordinator.

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

There were rumors a month ago that Locksley was leaving Alabama Football to be Lane Kiffin’s Offensive Coordinator at FAU. Those rumblings have proven false as Mike is currently in Tuscaloosa and probably checking out his new office right now.

Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Here we see 2 Saban Assistants performing the traditional greeting ceremony of the Saban Assistant people by allowing each other to touch the hand that touched Saban.

What do we know about Mike Locksley?

It’s not all pretty.

In keeping with Saban’s tradition of hiring wayward Offensive Coordinators, Locksley has had some trouble in his past. He was fired from his job as New Mexico’s Head Coach after a 2-26 record. During his tenure at UNM he was given a ‘verbal reprimand’ for physically reprimanding an Assistant Coach with his fist and had harassment charges filed against him by an administrative assistant.

That suits Saban just fine because he likes his OC like he likes his OJ – in trouble with the law and freshly squeezed out of another school.

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

“Perfect,” -Nick Saban ….probably.

What else?

In addition to being a Head Coach at New Mexico, Locksley was named Interim Head Coach at Maryland in October of 2015 after Head Coach Randy Edsall was fired in the middle of a season that ended with a 3-9 record. He’s coached positions and offenses at Maryland, Illinois and Florida and has improved the performance of individual units he’s coached although that hasn’t always translated into wins for the team.

So what does a Mike Locksley Offense look like?

Like Lane Kiffin, he plays with his gut. He’s not afraid to make big decisions and call big plays during a game. He likes to take chances. He like to chuck the rock.

What does that mean for us?

Dust off your “RUN THE DANG BAWL” memes Bama fans.

pic.twitter.com/1zua79EXbM

— notbobby (@noimnotbobby) February 7, 2017

We might need them.

If I’m crazy tell me on Facebook or in the comments.

…but don’t be surprised when you find out the same Head Coach that hired a former FSU quarterback to his staff before a season opener against FSU already has a replacement picked and sitting in the same room with him just like the last time an OC left Alabama.