Alabama Football: Two coaches with UT connections could fill openings
By Ronald Evans
Alabama Football: Nick Saban looking to Knoxville and Chapel Hill could complete the ’21 Crimson Tide staff.
Saturday night Alabama football chatter indicated Nick Saban may be close to another hire, and maybe two. Two more Alabama football assistants are needed to complete the 2021 staff. A replacement is needed for former running backs (now head coach at Marshall) coach, Charles Huff. Another coach is needed to fill the tight end and special teams duties vacated by Jeff Banks.
Numerous names have been mentioned over the last few days. First tweeted by Pete Thamel, with other sources concurring, the Saturday night news was North Carolina, running back coach, Robert Gillespie is Nick Saban’s top target. No one has said it is a done deal, but that could change Sunday.
Gillespie was the running backs coach at Tennessee in 2013-2017, working for Butch Jones. Prior to the Vols, Gillespie coached running backs at West Virginia, Oklahoma State and South Carolina.
The last three seasons, Gillespie has coached running backs at North Carolina. In 2020, the Tar Heels rushed for a 235.8 yards-per-game, to rank No. 10 among FBS teams. Gillespie played running back for Steve Spurrier at Florida and was a team captain during his senior season.
Another running back coach might become Saban’s choice for tight ends and special teams. Jay Graham and Jay Boulware are reportedly in contention for the open tight ends and special teams position.
Graham is the running backs coach at Tennessee, where he also played for Phillip Fulmer. Like almost everyone other than Danny White, Graham is looking for an exit from Knoxville. Graham also coached on Derek Dooley’s 2012 Tennessee Vols team.
Graham had assistant jobs at four small schools before being hired in 2009 to coach running backs at South Carolina. In his last season at South Carolina, he also coached tight ends. In between his two stints as a Tennessee assistant, Graham coached running backs and special teams at Florida State and Texas A&M.
As a recruiter, Jay Graham is credited with bringing Cam Akers to FSU and Marcus Lattimore to South Carolina.
Graham’s relationships with three members of the Saban coaching tree will carry weight in Nick’s decision. Graham has worked for or with Derek Dooley, Jeremy Pruitt and Jimbo Fisher. Graham and Jimbo Fisher were given 6-month ‘show-cause’ penalties for NCAA recruiting violations at Texas A&M. Graham’s NCAA penalty expired at the end of 2020.
Jay Boulware may still be in the mix for the position. Learning Nick Saban’s final decision may run past Sunday.
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This post will be updated as more information becomes available. UPDATED Sunday 1:15 PM CST: Matt Zenitz and others are reporting Gillespie will be the new running backs coach.