Alabama Football: Who’s next at DC for Nick Saban?
By Ronald Evans
As reported by Chris Low, Alabama Football has an opening at Defensive Coordinator. Pete Golding, as Ole Miss fans have been saying for days, is joining Lane Kiffin in Oxford for the same position he held in Tuscaloosa.
Many Alabama football fans are so pleased; it’s almost to the level of the Crimson Tide winning a National Championship. And who knows, maybe if Golding had left a year ago an undefeated Crimson Tide would have played for a National Championship in the 2022 season.
Many names are mentioned as possibilities for Golding’s successor. Certainly, Nick Saban was well prepared for the transition. Saban may have even facilitated it.
The most buzz from Alabama fans is about a possible return of Jeremy Pruitt. Some Tide fans predicting Pruitt’s return are also saying Sal Sunseri will be going back to an on-field role as well. The unknown about Pruitt is whether the NCAA can block his hiring or at the end of the NCAA’s investigation of Tennessee, could the NCAA then impose a severe penalty on Pruitt?
There is no public information on the NCAA’s position, but Alabama’s Compliance Dept. should already have an answer.
Two other hot names for Alabama Football Defensive Coordinator are Jim Leonhard and Glenn Schumann. It will take more than money to hire Schumann away from Kirby Smart’s staff, as Georgia can and would match any offer made by Nick Saban.
Jim Leonhard is in high demand after being spurned by Wisconsin for its head coach opening. Whether Nick Saban keeps his possible DC list in his head or tucked away under lock and key, Leonhard would not be a new name on the list.
Saban already has a coach with DC experience on the Alabama staff. It is analyst, Todd Grantham. Grantham has considerable experience. In a long assistant coaching career, Grantham has been a DC at Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State and Florida.
It appears the prevailing opinion among Alabama football fans is if Grantham becomes the top candidate, Saban should have never let Golding leave.
With Nick Saban, there is always the possibility his top choice is someone off the radar of fans. Connections and relationships matter with Saban and he is not expected to look outside his network of trusted associates.
Next. Tide will feature speed at linebacker. dark
Another name mentioned is a return of Karl Scott, but except for one short gig, Scott has never coached linebackers. Saban’s strong preference is for his inside linebackers coach to be his DC.