Bill O’Brien is officially back in college football.

Thursday night, Alabama announced that O’Brien has been named the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Crimson Tide. He takes over for Steve Sarkisian, who left Alabama to become the head coach at Texas after orchestrating one of the most dynamic offenses in college football history.

O’Brien heads to Alabama after spending seven seasons as the head coach of the Houston Texans in the NFL. Prior to making the leap to the professional ranks, O’Brien was the head coach at Penn state for two seasons.

“We are pleased and happy to be able to add Bill O’Brien to our coaching staff,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “He has a wealth of experience as both an offensive coordinator and head coach in the NFL and college. Bill is one of the brightest offensive minds in football, an outstanding teacher and excellent recruiter. He will strengthen our coaching staff and give our players the best possible chance to be successful.”

While with the Texan (2014-20), O’Brien led the franchise to four playoff appearances and finished with a 52-48 record. He was fired just four games into the 2020 season, when Houston did not have a win on the books.

“I am honored and excited to join Coach Saban’s staff at The University of Alabama,” O’Brien said. “I have an incredible amount of admiration for the rich football tradition at this University and the success Coach Saban has had during his time in Tuscaloosa. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with some of the best football players in the country, while helping to continue the success this program has enjoyed for many years.”

At Penn State, O’Brien inherited a program that had been hit with NCAA sanctions stemming from the Jerry Sandusky scandal. But the Nittany Lions managed to get winning seasons in both year, going 8-4 in 2012 and 7-5 in 2013.

Last season, Alabama finished the year with a perfect 13-0 record and defeated Ohio State to claim a national title.