Steve Sarkisian never shies away from discussing how Alabama coach Nick Saban changed his life.

The current Texas head coach was one of many embattled former head coaches to make his way to Tuscaloosa to serve as a coordinator under Saban before rejoining the head coaching ranks. Other success of the Nick Saban coaching rehab center include Lane Kiffin, Mike Locksley and others. All of those guys rebuilt their reputations at Alabama before landing their next head coaching gigs.

After a 34-24 Texas win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night, Sarkisian continued to be effusive in his praise of his former boss (via AL.com):

“I owe everything to him,” Sarkisian said. “I would not be standing here in front of you guys without Nick Saban. That’s very clear and I’ll never waiver on that.”

Sark expanded on those comments even more, saying his time in Tuscaloosa changed his life:

“This, the University of Alabama, Nick Saban, Tuscaloosa, changed my life,” Sarkisian said. “At a moment in my life when things weren’t going great, he extended me an olive branch. Everyone here supported me coming here and then bringing me back a second time to having that open heart surgery while I was here. So these people here mean a lot to me. I’m very grateful to everyone here in Tuscaloosa.

“So to come here and play the way we played, it’s humbling because life kinda goes full circle on that stuff. Not to get too emotional but it means a lot.”

Sarkisian has clearly brought the Texas program a long way in his time in Austin. Can he get the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff? Saturday night’s win over Alabama was a big step in that direction.