Alabama Football: After Armstrong exit, Nick Saban’s next staff move

Less than a month until Alabama Football Spring Practice begins, Nick Saban is moving forward to fill his assistant coach opening. Many Alabama Crimson Tide fans continue to hope Saban will find a way to hire Jeremy Pruitt. Others are more pragmatically interested in whether Saban will add an inside linebackers coach or a secondary coach.

The Alabama football offices in Tuscaloosa have plenty of linebacker coaching experience. New Defensive Coordinator, Kevin Steele has coached inside linebackers for seven college programs, including Alabama and one NFL team. Sal Sunseri who also has considerable experience coaching linebackers could move back to an on-field role.

Alabama football defensive line coach, Freddie Roach played linebacker for the Crimson Tide. Coaching Tide linebackers might be the best fit for Roach.

Jake Long is back with the Crimson Tide after a season with Oregon, working with inside linebackers as a graduate assistant. At this point, the former Alabama Crimson Tide walk-on is an analyst, but maybe Saban would elevate him to an interim role through the spring, as a trial for being ready for a full-time, on-field role.

What is possible, but at this point, not expected is for Saban to use the opening to hire another secondary coach. Travaris Robinson is currently assigned to safeties and cornerbacks. Given that Saban also coaches Alabama’s defensive backs, another DB coach is probably not needed.

There is a plus in giving the inside linebacker coaching assignment to someone other than Kevin Steele. It would provide Steele with more practice time to oversee the entire Alabama football defense.

Alabama Football and Charlie Strong

A recent rumor (and at this point, nothing more) is a return to Tuscaloosa by Charlie Strong. The former Louisville, Texas and South Florida head coach had been expected to join Mike Locksley at Maryland. The opening on Nick Saban’s staff may have put Strong’s move to College Park on hold. Strong previously worked as an analyst for Nick Saban.

The situation could easily be that Nick Saban has a list of names that includes coaches not mentioned by anyone. Saban and other members of the Alabama staff are expected to interview several candidates over the next week, but no decision will be rushed.

UPDATE: Saturday morning, Pete Thamel tweeted Liberty LB coach, Robert Bala has interviewed and is expected to accept an offer. Numerous follow-up reports state the surprise hire will be a linebacker coach for the Crimson Tide.

The best bet is the next Alabama football assistant hired by Nick Saban will not just be a good coach. He will either already be a top recruiter, or someone Saban believes will immediately become a top recruiter when pursuing potential Alabama Crimson Tide players.