Alabama Football: Coaching rumors swirl for Crimson Tide and Auburn
By Ronald Evans
Alabama Football will add three new assistant coaches in the coming days or weeks. The coaches are needed to replace the retiring Kevin Steele, along with the departures of Coleman Hutzler and Holman Wiggins.
Hutzler is the new Defensive Coordinator at Mississippi State. Holman Wiggins chose what is, at best, a lateral move to be the wide receivers coach at Texas A&M.
Nick Saban's hires never follow a predictable timetable. Alabama football fans worry the departure of Wiggins could hamper the February signing of prized recruit, Ryan Williams. Williams might have to sign before knowing his Crimson Tide position coach, but fortunately, his primary recruiter is Travaris Robinson.
Robinson's contract is expected to be extended soon, with a sizable raise. He has a strong chance of being named as Steele's replacement, or at least as co-DC.
Some Alabama football fans are still yearning for a Jeremy Pruitt return to the Crimson Tide staff. Pruitt will not be Alabama's new OC due to a six-year show cause imposed by the NCAA. In addition, when Pruitt is hired, he will be suspended for a full year. It has been rumored that Nick Saban offered Pruitt an analyst position months ago that Pruitt turned down.
The most recent rumor out of Tuscaloosa is that DJ Durkin will interview for an onfield position. Durkin's coaching career began in 2005. The last four seasons he has been either a DC or co-DC at Ole Miss and Texas A&M. He has also been at DC at Florida and Michigan and was Maryland's head coach for three seasons, compiling an 11-15 record. His exit from College Park was dramatic and controversial, following the death of a Maryland player. Despite Durkin's head coaching record, he is respected for his assistant coaching performance.
Durkin could join Alabama as a linebackers coach. He could perhaps gain a co-DC role as well. Based solely on rumor, Nick Saban may need to hire two coaches for linebackers, with the possibility Robert Bala will be lured away to become a Defensive Coordinator elsewhere.
Being an Alabama football coach pays off
Coaching changes at Alabama are almost always driven by assistants moving up to a higher level in the coaching profession. They are troublesome to Crimson Tide fans, but Nick Saban has little difficulty navigating the transitions.
Meanwhile from Auburn is a rumor that Hugh Freeze wants Cadillac Williams to leave. The rumor includes some seedy accusations, not dissimilar to what was fabricated in an attempt to force Bryan Harsin to resign. Some Auburn fans, who have raved about Hugh Freeze, are having doubts.
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