Alabama Football: Saban officially finalizes 2018 assistant coach staff
By Ronald Evans
It is finally official, Nick Saban has a complete staff of Alabama football assistants for 2018. Burton Burns will move into administration.
The last member of Nick Saban’s 2007, on-field group of assistants, Burton Burns is moving to the Assistant Athletic Director for Alabama Football. Burns has been the most solid developer of talent and one of the best Alabama football recruiters since 2007. In his 11 seasons coaching Alabama football running backs, Burns developed Alabama’s first and only Heisman Trophy winners, Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry.
It has been rumored for weeks that Burns would retire after the 2018 recruiting cycle. It is a big plus for Alabama football that he will remain involved with the program. Assistant coach Joe Pannunzio will move from coaching tight ends to the running backs.
In the minds of Alabama football fans, no one can match Burns’ skill teaching the position but Pannunzio has the confidence of Nick Saban,
"Joe Pannunzio has done a great job in several different roles within our organization. He is an excellent coach who will do a fine job with our running backs."
2018 Staff Assignments
The University also officially announced the hiring of Dan Enos and Craig Kuligowski. Enos has the title of associate head coach and quarterbacks coach. After spending three seasons with Bret Bielema at Arkansas, Enos moved to Michigan briefly before being pulled away by Saban. Enos also had five seasons of head coaching experience at Central Michigan.
Craig Kuligowski left the Miami Hurricanes to join the Alabama football staff. Before Miami, he was an assistant at Missouri for 15 seasons. He also played for Nick Saban at Toledo. He is highly respected for his ability to develop talent. He replaces Karl Dunbar and will coach the defensive line. Coach Kool, as he is known, will also carry the title of associate head coach.
With the last hires, the long-awaited official announcements were made of Tosh Lupoi as defensive coordinator and Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator.
Recently hired Jeff Banks will add tight ends to his role as special teams coach. Another new assistant, Pete Golding will coach the inside linebackers and function as co-defensive coordinator. New assistant coach Josh Gattis will coach wide receivers and be co-offensive coordinator. The other post-season hire, Karl Scott has replaced Derrick Ansley and will coach defensive backs.
Next: 'Never too early' 2018 Offense Depth Chart
Some national college football pundits have labeled the 2018 staff as Saban’s best ever. Others suggest they are also the most energetic and aggressive group of recruiters in college football.