Billy Napier. Steve Sarkisian. Before they were the faces of two marquee SEC programs, they represented Alabama football together — a decade prior to this year’s Gator-Longhorn matchup.
Before stepping into Gainesville, Napier stopped at six different programs in varying roles. He began his coaching career with South Carolina State, then spent five seasons with Clemson. Next came short stints with Alabama in 2011, Colorado State in 2012 and Florida State in 2013.
Napier returned to Alabama in 2013, where he worked as an analyst for the Tide before being promoted to wide receivers coach less than a year later.
Napier entered the receiver room with five-time NFL Pro-Bowler Amari Cooper at his disposal. In the coach’s first year in the position, Cooper totaled 1,727 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.
Alabama would go on to lose in the 2014 semifinals to the Ohio State Buckeyes. But 2015 was a different story.
Napier remained as the receivers coach, this time led by true freshman wide receiver Calvin Ridley. The 21-year-old set a new program freshman record for receiving yards, leading the team to a 12-1 record and a national title — the first, and only, of Napier’s coaching career.
Fresh off the pinnacle of college football, Napier entered 2016 in a similar position. Ridley returned, and wide receiver ArDarius Stewart entered the mix. But the junior wasn't the only figure new to the South.
Sarkisian arrived in Tuscaloosa the same year, kicking off a season-long working relationship with Napier.
Sarkisian entered Alabama as the former head coach of the University of Southern California. USC placed him on an indefinite leave of absence due to intoxication at work before firing Sarkisian in 2015.
Nearly a full calendar year later, Alabama brought him on as an offensive analyst. While Sarkisian did not have an on-field role, he played a part in the team’s 2017 national championship appearance.
Reflecting on their time spent together at Alabama, Napier said he respected Sarkisian’s evolution as a coach in an SEC teleconference call Oct. 1.
“I’ve always gotten along with Sark,” Napier said. “I have a ton of respect for his knowledge. I think he’s a good person. I think he has really good intentions [and] cares about people.”
Both Napier and Sarkisian’s presence was felt through the duration of Alabama’s 2016 season.
Sarkisian came onto the scene in Week 2, sparking an offensive explosion. Napier’s receiver core excelled over the course of the next seven weeks, during which his star wide receivers, Ridley and Stewart, posted 174 and 120 yards over Kentucky and Arkansas, respectively.
The Napier-and-Sarkisian duo with the Tide proved successful, propelling the latter to further football fame. Sarkisian made a name for himself as an analyst and would later be promoted to offensive coordinator. He served the position during the 2017 National Championship.
Napier gave Sarkisian his flowers during the Oct. 1 teleconference call. While the two only crossed paths for a season, the Florida coach said he has immense admiration for Sarkisian as a leader and his success on the Alabama staff.
“He’s always done a good job, and I have a ton of respect for him as a coach,” Napier said.
Contact Riley Orovitz at rorovitz@alligator.org. Follow her on X @rileyorovitz.
Riley is a sophomore sports journalism student and is the swim & dive beat reporter for Fall 2025 in her first semester with The Alligator. In her free time, she may be watching past Miami Dolphins or Florida Panthers highlights or hanging out with her friends.
