The latest Alabama Crimson Tide news and rumors

The Alabama Crimson Tide has a full complement of assistant football coaches with the addition of former Washington assistant, William Inge. Inge is the second-most experienced assistant on Kalen DeBoer's staff. He has been a Power Five assistant for 12 seasons, including four seasons on a DeBoer staff at Fresno State and Washington.

Monday night, it was reported Jay Nunez is leaving Oklahoma to join DeBoer's Alabama staff. Nunez is a special teams guy, but his role at Alabama will not be as an on-field coach. It is speculated his title will be Special Teams Coordinator.

The Nunez news fueled concern among some Alabama football fans that it meant DeBoer had an onfield opening due to Ryan Grubb's decision to leave for the NFL. Grubb appears to be a leading contender for the Seattle OC position, but no credible reports claim it is a done deal.

Alabama Crimson Tide Assistant Football Coaches

Kalen DeBoer has built a strong staff that includes two former college football head coaches. Prospective titles below are provided by Nick Kelly.

• Defensive Coordinator: Kane Wommack; Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line: Freddie Roach; Co-DC/Defensive Backs: Colin Hitschler; Co-DC/Defensive Backs: Maurice Linguist; Linebackers: William Inge

• Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Grubb; Wide Receivers: JaMarcus Shephard; Running Backs: Robert Gillespie; Offensive Line: Scott Huff; Tight Ends: Nick Sheridan

Both Inge and Sheridan have special teams experience, so one of them will likely have the on-field responsibility for that role.

The new Alabama football staff is impressive, despite not having much coaching experience in the SEC. Former Nick Saban assistants, Robert Gillespie and Freddie Roach have a combined 18 seasons coaching (and recruiting) in the SEC. DeBoer's only other assistant with SEC experience is Maurice Linguist. The former Buffalo head coach was an assistant at Mississippi State in 2016 and at Texas A&M in 2018 and 2019.

Even with a somewhat rocky transition from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer, on Wednesday's Signing Day, Alabama will finish with the No. 2, 2024 signing class. That success portends continued recruiting success in the 2025 class and beyond. Other good roster news is after midnight Friday night, no additional Alabama players may enter the Transfer Portal. It appears there will be no more exits, at least not until the final Portal window in April.

Coming for Nate Oats?

That other programs are interested in Nate Oats is neither new nor surprising. The latest speculation is Oats as a possible replacement for Kenny Payne at Louisville. Louisville is a prime job, but if Oats ever wants to leave Alabama, he will have chances at better ones. One might be when Tom Izzo retires from Michigan State. Another possibility could be an NBA head coaching gig.

For now, Alabama Crimson Tide fans have little reason for concern. A year ago, Alabama made Oats one of the top ten, highest-paid college basketball coaches. With escalations, his average salary through the 2029 season will be $5M.

There is no indication the SEC's best coach has any intention of leaving Tuscaloosa.