Alabama Football: Could Bill O’Brien be next USC head coach?

Could Alabama football be without another coordinator?

When Alabama football signs coordinators, there is an understanding that the partnership will be short-lived. Everyone wants a Saban assistant as their head coach, and many have poached coordinators over the years. Despite Saban being undefeated against his assistants, three SEC teams have hired head coaches from the Tide’s staff. Most recently, Steve Sarkisian was hired to be the man in charge at Texas. Could another coordinator be out the door?

USC announced the long-awaited firing of their head coach Clay Helton. Helton showed potential with the Trojans, but the loss to Stanford was the straw that broke the camel’s back. There is now an opening at USC, and it will surely be a hot commodity.

USC has recruiting power on the West coast. If they can win, they have an easy path through the Pac-12. They also have a strong history and plenty of donors. Many see it as one of the best jobs in college football. Will someone on Alabama football’s staff get the job?

The clear frontrunner from the Tide’s current staff would be Bill O’Brien. He has experience as a head coach in both college football and the NFL. While he has no experience with the West coast, he should be able to recruit well.

However, there are some reasons he shouldn’t be considered. First and foremost, he has only been Alabama football’s offensive coordinator for two games. While he has a strong resume outside of this stop, he hasn’t had a lot of time to learn from Saban. That’s the benefit of hiring a Saban assistant.

This also depends on who all is interested in the job. Some head coaches would consider this an upgrade. Could the Trojans land James Franklin from Penn State? Hugh Freeze has a history of winning. Heck, even Urban Meyer could be considered if he wants out of Jacksonville.

Bill O’Brien will undoubtedly be a head coach again someday. It may be as soon as next season. However, don’t expect him to be chosen for this job.