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Alabama Football: Nick Saban close to hiring a new defensive coach

By Ronald Evans

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks during a press conference after the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks during a press conference after the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football is looking to hire two new assistant coaches. It appears the UTSA defensive coordinator, Pete Golding will be one of them.

Alabama football has two openings for on-field coaches for the 2018 season. Jeremy Pruitt’s exit to become the Vols head man created one vacancy. The other opening is the newly created 10th on-field position approved by the NCAA for the 2018 season.

There has been no official word from the University but multiple reports state Pete Golding will be one of the hires. Golding is a surprise for Alabama football fans. While he has eight seasons of defensive coordinator experience, the list of schools will not excite Tide fans.

ICYMI: Clemson will not be star-struck against favored Tide

After playing defensive back at Delta State, Goldin has coached at Delta State, Tusculum, Southeastern Louisana and Southern Miss. For the last two seasons, he has been defensive coordinator at UTSA in the C-USA conference.

All of his position coaching experience has been with defensive secondary players. In his 11 seasons as an assistant, eight of them have been spent as a defensive coordinator at Tusculum, Delta State, Southeastern Louisiana and UTSA. Golding has been tabbed as a rising coaching star both in coaching skill and recruiting.

Fitting together the assistant coach puzzle

Many Alabama football fans expect linebacker coach and Co-DC, Tosh Lupoi to be elevated to the sole defensive coordinator. Lupoi is highly respected for his coaching and recruiting. He is a logical choice to replace Pruitt. The only problem is Tosh has never been a DC. His void in play-calling experience may or may not hinder him in gaining a promotion.

Another question that comes to mind is how Saban will adjust to having three secondary coaches. Nick and Derrick Ansley very capably handle the secondary coaching now. With Pruitt’s departure, the Tide needs another linebacker coach. Might Ansley or Golding become a linebacker coach? Nick Saban not coaching the secondary seems unfathomable.

How to manage the egos and the career aspirations

Alabama football fans do not want to lose Tosh Lupoi or Derrick Ansley. They are both top teachers, tacticians and recruiters. However the new staff evolves, Lupoi and Ansley need to provide necessary buy-in to whatever Nick decides.

Any guesses of the final alignment are futile. Golding is yet to be hired and the additional vacancy must be filled before the staff assignments will be known.

Rumors of other possible coaching changes are best ignored at this point. With so many head coach changes, this is and will continue to be a volatile offseason. Once the dust settles at the end of the Early Signing Period (Dec. 23rd) there will be more assistant coach movement in college football.

Hopefully, that volatility will have little or no impact on Alabama football as the team prepares for two huge games.The good news for Alabama football is that its head coach is known for having a plan for everything. Even if that plan did not work perfectly in last season’s championship run, holding faith in Nick is always sound.

Next: Tide must show up against Clemson

Tide fans, do we have a Roadrunner in our future? Only Nick Saban knows for sure. Stay tuned, we’ll keep you posted.

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