Alabama Football: Greg Byrne will face challenges leading Tide forward

Following two successful predecessors, Greg Byrne must rebuild baseball, continue to build basketball, maintain Alabama football, and at some point, hire Nick Saban’s successor.

Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne has many challenges. Alabama football, baseball and basketball all need his attention and leadership. In addition, 18 other varsity sports require the same leadership and commitment. It is not an easy job.

At the age of 45, at the pinnacle of his profession, Grey Byrne may be the Alabama athletics leader for a couple of decades. He will face many challenges and he will be measured by successful predecessors and the competitive success of Crimson Tide teams.

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Byrne has a college athletics pedigree. Greg’s dad, Bill Byrne was highly respected in the industry and was revered by the Aggie faithful for his 10-year tenure as AD at TAMU. Greg’s career highlights before Alabama were being AD at Mississippi State and Arizona.

It will take more time and study for Byrne to formalize his ten-year plan for Alabama athletics. We can already tell that Greg is a man of action. Let’s review the top three items for his most immediate focus.

Hiring a Baseball Coach

In the recent firing of Greg Goff, Byrne showed he can be decisive. Even with a new gleaming venue, Alabama baseball needs a rebuild. Byrne must choose wisely with the hire and sow patience in the fan base.

Byrne has a track record of making good baseball hires at Mississippi State and Arizona. Greg Hansen of the Arizona Daily Star can see Byrne luring Jay Johnson away from Arizona.

"If Byrne wants Johnson to be the coach to realize the Crimson Tide’s baseball potential, there’s almost nothing economically Arizona can do to stop it."

Johnson would be an easy sell to Tide fans with his success at Arizona. The price tag might hit $700K, but the Alabama budget can afford it.

New Contract for Avery Johnson and Coleman Coliseum

Avery Johnson’s original Alabama contract calls for either extension or renegotiation now. Byrne would be welled served to resolve and execute either an extension or a new deal for Avery quickly.

The bigger and more difficult issue for Alabama basketball is Coleman Coliseum. Coleman has a great history, but its outmoded design has been an issue for more than 25 years. The $22 million facelift more than a decade ago added some nice components. It did almost nothing to remedy the building’s design flaws.

A new arena will cost $125 – $175 million. Even for Alabama, that is a lot of money. Byrne will have a challenge making the best long-term decision.

Maintaining Alabama football success and …

The big deal for Byrne was getting Saban’s new deal finalized. Byrne will have other important football issues but Nick is paramount for Byrne’s career and Alabama football’s future. Alabama football will one day lose Nick Saban, but it can never be to another football team.

Along with his fellow AD’s, Byrne will have much to do in shaping the SEC football future. There will be no shortage of important issues to navigate. And then there is that one more thing. The list in the desk drawer.

No doubt, Byrne already has the top three names on his list for Nick Saban’s successor. He must be prepared for any eventuality. He will update the list at least every year. He will hope reaching out to any name on his list is many years away.

If Byrne remains in Tuscaloosa long enough, he will one day replace Nick Saban – or try to at least. If that transpires it will be the action that defines Greg Byrne’s career.

Next: For 2017 football success, look to the Defensive Line

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