Alabama Football: Creating the perfect coaching staff for Saban

Crafting the perfect coaching staff for Alabama football

Defense

Defensive coordinator/ILB coach: Jeremy Pruitt

Saban has had some great defensive coordinators. I’m sticking with Pruitt as the top contender, though. He was an excellent recruiter with the Crimson Tide, and he developed some of the best linebackers in the country. Studs like Reuben Foster came through the program with Pruitt in charge. While he has mostly failed as Tennessee’s head coach, he proved in Tuscaloosa that he is more than capable of being a solid defensive coordinator. In fact, he might be on his way back to Tuscaloosa in the near future.

Outside linebackers coach: Tosh Lupoi

This one might seem controversial. I realize that a lot of people were disappointed in how Lupoi performed as a coordinator. However, he got that job for a reason. Lupoi was an elite recruiter and did a great job with outside linebackers. He could go back to that job and thrive.

Defensive line coach: Bo Davis

This one is also a bit controversial. Bo Davis went to the NFL in part due to NCAA investigations, so his legacy with Alabama football is tainted with cheating. However, he was still a great coach outside of the investigations. You could add Karl Dunbar and Freddie Roach to this list, but there is no doubt that Davis was the best defensive line coach that Alabama had.

Secondary coach: Kirby Smart

I don’t think Saban would let Smart come back to coach for him if he begged, and there is no way that Smart’s career would ever stoop so low where he went back to being a defensive backs coach. Still, this is a hypothetical dream team. That means you have to include Smart somewhere, and this is the most logical opening. Nick Saban mostly coaches the defensive backs on his own, but having Smart would be vital to game-planning against any opponent.

Obviously, more goes into assembling a staff than position coaches. I left out special teams coordinators, associate head coaches, grad assistants and other vital members of the team. However, this is the dream team for Alabama football.