Jim McElwain (2008-2011)
With a few variations, McElwain ran Nick Saban's offense. That was the requirement for every Saban OC until Lane Kiffin, whom Saban also kept a rein on. JMac performed his job well. With Saban's defensive-centric philosophy, McElwain was a good complement. The Crimson Tide averaged over 400 yards of offense per game in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons.
Alabama's National Championships in 2009 and 2011 were won with outstanding defenses, but Jim McElwain's game-calling also played a key role to the Crimson Tide going 26-1 in those two seasons.
Lane Kiffin (2014-2016)
What happened in Lane Kiffin's three seasons at Alabama was extraordinary. Kiffin reinvented Nick Saban's offense. The result was a National Championship in 2015. Saban constrained Kiffin to an extent. But Saban's bold move to significantly change an offense that had won three national championships in five seasons took a willingness to adapt that few coaches possess.
While Kiffin delivered with an offense in 2015 that won the National Championship, Kiffin and Saban's relationship was rocky. Kiffin probably cost the Crimson Tide the championship in 2016, putting Saban and Steve Sarkisian at a disadvantage in the close loss to Clemson.
Brian Daboll (2017) and Mike Locksley (2017-2018)
After Kiffin moved on and Sarkisian left for the NFL, Saban retrenched somewhat. Daboll makes this list for finally convincing Saban to sub Tua Tagovailoa for Jalen Hurts in the 2017 National Championship Game.
Daboll and Locksley were listed as co-OCs in 2017. Locks kept the Crimson Tide's offensive train running in 2018 after Daboll's departure. His offense was impressive for 14 straight games. Then the wheels fell off for Alabama (on both sides of the ball) against Clemson in the National Championship Game.