Alabama Crimson Tide News: Latest coaching staff updates and more

Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide football program are continuing to make coaching changes as the offseason progresses and spring ball approaches.

Following the hasty departure of Austin Armstrong, who left for Florida just eight days after officially becoming Alabama’s inside linebackers coach, the position was suddenly vacant once again.

Coach Saban acted quickly, hiring former Liberty assistant Robert Bala to fill the role. Bala worked under current Auburn coach Hugh Freeze at Liberty in 2022, where the defense he helped coach played very well.

Still, the single season at Liberty is Bala’s only experience at a D1 program, and he has never held a prominent role at a Power-5 school, much less at a school of Alabama’s prestige. He will certainly have to prove himself to a hungry fan base that was displeased with the job done by Pete Golding, the previous inside linebackers coach.

Clearly, Robert Bala was not Coach Saban’s first choice, as Armstrong was the initial hire. He will have plenty of talent to work with, such as blossoming star Deontae Lawson, JUCO product Justin Jefferson, Georgia transfer Trezmen Marshall, young studs like Jihaad Campbell and Shawn Murphy, and more.

The Alabama Crimson Tide also added a defensive analyst to its staff, welcoming Charlie Strong back into the fold. Strong is a well-respected defensive mind, and was on Alabama’s staff during its 2020 national championship season.

Unfortunately, the Alabama Crimson Tide also lost one of the most valuable members of its staff. Sal Sunseri, who served as a Special Assistant to the Head Coach and previously served as the outside linebackers coach in Tuscaloosa, has departed to join Deion Sanders and Charles Kelly in Colorado. Sunseri was one of Coach Saban’s longtime assistants, and he embodied the culture of Alabama football.

Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball lands 2023 recruit

Alabama basketball was able to add to its 2023 recruiting class when it landed 4-star wing Kris Parker out of Quincy, Florida. Parker is a top-100 player in the class and the no. 10 player in the state of Florida. He chose the Alabama Crimson Tide over Villanova, Missouri, and UCF on Friday afternoon.

Assuming Alabama will no longer have Brandon Miller or reserve Dom Welch next season, the wing rotation could consist of Nimari Burnett, Rylan Griffen, Davin Cosby, and incoming freshmen Sam Walters and Kris Parker.

The 2023 class is likely finished with the commitment of Parker, which allows the Alabama staff to turn its focus entirely on the 2024 cycle.