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Alabama Football: Latest buzz on two possible assistant coach hires

By Ronald Evans

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 17: Fans cheer as coach Nick Saban leads the Alabama Crimson Tide out of the locker room for a game against North Texas on September 17, 2011 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 17: Fans cheer as coach Nick Saban leads the Alabama Crimson Tide out of the locker room for a game against North Texas on September 17, 2011 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football has two assistant coach openings. The loudest current buzz points to Chip Long of Notre Dame and Terry Joseph of UNC as the top choices.

Alabama football coaching hires by Nick Saban often bring surprises. Jim McElwain, Lane Kiffin and Brian Daboll happened with little if any, advance indications. For the past several days most speculation has been about LSU assistant Corey Raymond.

Raymond coaches defensive backs and is a star on the recruiting trail. Raymond would be a solid hire for the Tide staff but it does not appear likely. As LSU erodes under Ed Orgeron, Bengal Tigers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is a probable successor to Coach O. If that happens, Raymond would be a logical choice to become LSU DC. Given these circumstances, pulling the LSU alum away from Baton Rouge would be difficult.

Terry Joseph is the name most frequently mentioned as the Tide’s next defensive coach. Joseph is the defensive backs coach at North Carolina. He has also coached at Louisiana Tech, Nebraska and Texas A&M. He is known as an excellent coach and a very strong recruiter.

Offensive Coordinator

The Terry Joseph chatter on message boards is being overshadowed by anticipation Chip Long will become the Tide’s next offensive coordinator. Long is a hot, young commodity in the coaching ranks. He is only 34 years-old with eight years, assistant coach experience. Notre Dame hired him a year ago after he spent one season as the Offensive Coordinator at Memphis.

Going back to 2006 and including his graduate assistant positions, Long has worked at Louisville, Arkansas, Illinois and Arizona State, before his last two seasons at Memphis and Notre Dame.

Irish fans were thrilled by Long’s powerful rushing attack in 2017. Notre Dame rushed for 269.3 yards per game (7th in the FBS), the most for the Irish in over a decade. Long’s Notre Dame offense was No. 24 in Scoring Offense and No. 27 in Total Offense.

Chip Long is from Birmingham and he played college football at the University of North Alabama. He played both receiver and tight end for the Lions.

Irish will fight to keep Long

Prying Long away from Notre Dame will not be easy. The Irish can compete in terms of salary and they have already lost defensive coordinator, Mike Elko to Jimbo Fisher. Besides the obvious pull of returning home, the lure of a Tide roster loaded with offensive talent must be attractive to Long. Some Alabama football insiders believe the only job Long would leave the Irish for is Alabama.

If Long joins Nick Saban’s staff, it is expected to be as Co-Offensive Coordinator with Mike Locksley. Long might also be the position coach for the tight ends if Joe Pannunzio moves to an administrative role.

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Alabama football players have been vocal in support of a promotion for Mike Locksley. Players should not choose coaches. Thinking back, Mike Price had strong player support arguing against his dismissal. Still, Saban must find a way to keep Locksley positive if Long joins Alabama football.

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