Nick Saban sends letter to high school after death of coach (Photo)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban offered his condolences to a high school in Tuscumbia, Ala., whose football coach tragically died last week.

In a letter dated Oct. 22 and addressed to Deshler High School athletic director Patrick Smith, Saban expressed his sadness for the death of Jake Linville, the 42-year-old coach who was in his first year as Deshler’s head coach.

“I have no doubt that Coach Linville was a great leader and not only well respected on the field and in the classroom, but in the community as well,” Saban wrote.

According to Al.com, Linville died last Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his childhood home near Colinwood, Tenn. Friends of Linville, who had been a coach at Deshler since 2010, say the shooting was accidental and not suicide.

That is certainly a classy gesture from Saban as he and his coaching staff prepare for Saturday’s road contest at Tennessee.

For more Alabama news, visit TideSports.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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