Saban's aides tried covert golf outings, but a hole-in-one blew their cover
Nick Saban's Alabama assistants attempted to hide their golf rounds by playing at the opposite course, but Steve Sarkisian's hole-in-one revealed their scheme.
During Nick Saban's era at Alabama, his coaching staff kept a close eye on any attempts to sneak off for a round of golf, devising a system of playing at the course opposite the one Saban chose. Pete Golding recounted that a mix-up led their group to Indian Hills while Saban was at North River, where Steve Sarkisian suddenly holed out with an eight-iron. The pro on the course asked who made the shot, prompting the assistants to scramble back to their carts and hide.
Word of the remarkable hole-in-one spread quickly through Tuscaloosa, and Saban learned of the incident the next day. The episode illustrates the strict supervision Saban maintains over his staff, even during off-season leisure activities. It also offers a glimpse into the lengths assistants will go to find downtime under a demanding head coach.
Why it matters
The story reveals the extent of Nick Saban's control over his staff, even in their personal time.
In this story