Alabama head football coach Nick Saban has tested positive of COVID-19. Saban immediately went home and began quarantining.
Saban mentioned that he does not have any symptoms related to the virus, but has taken a PCR test to confirm his diagnosis.
Alabama’s athletics director Greg Byrne also tested positive.
Saban who is 68-years old, said he felt fine and is not concerned about his health. None of the players or coaching staff have tested positive after learning about the news.
Alabama tests everyone connected to the football program on a daily basis, and has done so dating back to September.
Saban did explain on a Zoom call that he was able to monitor practice over Zoom.
“I had the managers have a phone and if I wanted a play repeated, I said, ‘Repeat that play.”
The six-time national champion coach has wondered if there’s anyway that he can manage this week’s game and talking with coaches while being at home.
The Crimson Tide will take on No. 3 Georgia this Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
Saban is now the sixth FBS head coach to test positive along with Kansas’ Les Miles, Arizona’s Kevin Sumlin, Mike Norvell of Florida St., Blake Anderson of Arkansas St., and Toledo’s Jason Candle.
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will take over as the interim head coach for the time being. Sarkisian was the head coach of USC from 2014-2015, as well as the head coach at Washington from 2009-2013.
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