I sometimes get bored at work.....so when I saw this thread my first thought was "I wonder how Saban's former Alabama assistants have done in their SECOND year as a head coach after leaving Alabama?". Now, some went straight to head coaching after leaving Bama the first time (Smart, Kiffin) and some took other assistant positions before becoming a head coach. But, the "second year as a head coach after leaving Bama" is my stat and I am sticking to it.
Here is what I found:
Kirby Smart: 13-2 in second year at Georgia.
Mario Cristobal: 12-2 in second year at Oregon.
Billy Napier: 11-3 in second year at Louisiana.
Mel Tucker: 2-5 in second year at Michigan State (Covid year)
Mike Locksley: 2-3 in second year at Maryland (Covid year)
Lane Kiffin: 5-7 in second year at FAU
Jim McEelwain: 8-6 in second year at Colorado State
Curt Cignetti: 12-2 in second year at IUP (mark me down as "never heard of this guy")
Jeremy Pruitt: 8-5 in second year at Tennessee *Charles Huff: Only one season as Marshall Head Coach.
*Butch Jones: Second season at Arky State.
*Dan Lanning: First year at Oregon.
Average: 8 wins, 4 losses
Now, some of these guys are still head coaches an some have left. So, after intense research and using my Apple II E computer to run extensive analytics, I predict Sark will go at LEAST 8-4 this season at the helm of the mighty Texas Longhorns. My real prediction though is 9-3.