Sam Pittman recalls Nick Saban’s interest in hiring him

Sam Pittman almost left Arkansas over 10 years ago. The current Razorback head coach had just gotten to Fayetteville as offensive line coach when he got a call from Nick Saban, who was interested in him taking the same role with Alabama football.

He didn’t make the move. But speaking Thursday at SEC Media Days in Dallas, Pittman mentioned how important the conversation was to his life.

“Coach Saban’s interest in me changed Jamie (Pittman) and I’s life,” Pittman said. “It changed our life financially, changed our life in myself having confidence in my ability.”

Alabama ultimately hired current Miami head coach Mario Cristobal for the job. Pittman worked at Arkansas through 2015 in the offensive line coach role.

Eventually, he jumped ship for Georgia, where he’d work for Saban disciple Kirby Smart. Pittman served as offensive line coach for the Bulldogs from 2016-2019 before taking the head job at Arkansas.

“I think there is a reason why I went and worked for Kirby at Georgia,” Pittman said. “Had a lot to do with coach Saban. Derek Dooley started (my career) at Tennessee, but coach Saban is the GOAT and he is someone that our league is going to miss dearly.”

Saban retired in January after 17 seasons as Alabama’s head coach, wherein he won six national championships. He and the Crimson Tide beat Pittman’s Arkansas teams every time they played.

Pittman spoke a bit more about the influence of Saban on his career.

“Whenever I went to the head coach’s meeting, it goes in alphabetical order and I sit right next to coach Saban,” Pittman said. “I’m not saying he took me under his wing, but I was nervous sitting next to him. I’m sure I asked him more questions than what he might have want to answer. But he answers every one of them.”