Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will head to Athens to coach the Georgia Bulldogs after Monday’s championship game and since he has been doing both jobs at the same time since being hired last month, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban was nice enough to provide his longtime assistant with some help.
Per Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Saban provided Smart with a secretary to help him balance both jobs and not get overwhelmed. Oddly enough, there’s a reason behind it besides plain common courtesy and/or the goodness of Saban’s heart (or lack thereof).
“In 1994, Alabama coach Nick Saban — then the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator — was hired as Michigan State’s coach with several weeks still left in the NFL season.
“With Saban staying with the Browns through the end of the season, then-Cleveland coach Bill Belichick gave Saban a secretary to take any Michigan State-related calls during the day while Saban focused on the Browns. Later in the day, Saban could then return the calls and handle any other Michigan State-related matters.
“Saban said that helped during that process.”
Saban also did the same for former offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, who was hired to coach Colorado State during Alabama’s championship run in 2011. Considering how Smart will soon become a strong competitor against Alabama, the fact that Saban did this for someone who has been by his side since 2006 speaks volumes about his character.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
