When Kalen DeBoer hired Ryan Grubb last offseason, Alabama fans thought they were getting the missing piece of the puzzle to the offense. The year prior's inconsistencies were chalked up to inexperienced play-calling from Nick Sheridan.
Instead, Alabama's offensive issues were even more exacerbated without Jalen Milroe's legs. The ground game collapsed completely, and the Crimson Tide's offense was a one-trick pony that couldn't compete with heavyweights like Georgia and Indiana in the postseason.
Fortunately for Grubb, his story is not done being written yet. He's back for a second season as the Alabama offensive coordinator, and he'll have a chance to climb this ranking if he can right the ship in 2026.
But he's very much on the clock.
Where Ryan Grubb ranks among Alabama's offensive coordinators in the 21st century
14. Dave Rader (2003-2006)
Rader was the offensive coordinator for Alabama during the ill-fated Mike Shula era. If you enjoyed two runs up the middle followed by a sack, this was the era of Crimson Tide play-calling for you.
Rader has been out of coaching since 2010, instead moving into politics, where he is currently a state senator in Oklahoma.
13. Neil Callaway (2000)
Calloway, a player for Alabama under Coach Bryant in the 1970s, was the Tide's offensive coordinator from 1998-2000 under head coach Mike DuBose. Unfortunately for Calloway, the only season that counts under this century is 2000. A year after Alabama won the SEC Championship in 1999, the Tide collapsed in 2000 to go 3-8 without Shaun Alexander in the backfield.
12. Major Applewhite (2007)
Nick Saban's first offensive coordinator at the Capstone, Applewhite only lasted a year before Saban handed play-calling duties to Jim McElwain starting in 2008.
Like the season in general, Alabama's offense showed some promise early with a 6-2 start before collapsing down the stretch.
11. Ryan Grubb (2025)
Too low? Maybe. But Grubb was the architect of one of the worst rushing offenses in Alabama history. The Tide still made the College Football Playoff thanks to strong defense and Ty Simpson's brilliance, but the lack of balance offensively cost the Crimson Tide when it mattered the most.
Grubb can climb this list quickly, but he's got a lot of work to do.
10. Nick Sheridan (2024)
Sheridan got a lot of grief as Alabama's OC during the 2024 season, but the fact is the offense was better under Sheridan than it was under Grubb. Sheridan took the demotion with class, sticking around for an additional season as Alabama's QB coach before taking over as the OC at Michigan State.
9. Bill O'Brien (2021-2022)
Perhaps no other assistant coach this century for Alabama can say they did less with more than Bill O'Brien. His offensive philosophy consisted of "Bryce Young, please save us", which often worked. But when things broke down, he rarely had a plan.
And I'll never forgive him for his lack of Jahmyr Gibbs usage in 2022. He should have been given a Derrick Henry-like workload.
8. Les Koenning (2001-2002)
A name unfamiliar to younger Alabama fans, Koenning was the Tide's offensive coordinator during Dennis Franchione's two seasons as the head coach. Despite taking over an offense that bottomed out with a 3-8 season in 2000, Koenning did strong work in helping lead Alabama to a bounce-back 7-5 record in 2001 before a 10-win campaign in 2002. Unfortunately, that momentum stalled when Franchione abandoned ship for College Station.
7. Tommy Rees (2023)
Perhaps the most underrated assistant of the Saban era, Tommy Rees didn't get the credit for the work he did with Milroe and the Alabama offense during his lone season as the OC. Considering the struggles the Tide has had over the last two seasons on that side of the ball, Rees' tenure continues to age well.
6. Doug Nussmeier (2012-2013)
Nussmeier was shown the door following the 2013 season as Saban was ready to move on from the archaic offensive system. While he wasn't the most popular OC during his time, he was the coordinator for Alabama's 2012 national title season, which can't be forgotten.
5. Mike Locksley (2018)
Locksley was technically the co-offensive coordinator in 2017 as well, but he was only the play-caller for Alabama in 2018. That season was a record-setting year for the Tide's offense, led by Tua Tagovailoa and the Ryde-Outs (Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs, and Jaylen Waddle). His spot would be higher if it weren't for the face-plant against Clemson in the Natty.
4. Brian Daboll (2017)
Daboll had to coach the 2017 team with a hand tied behind his back because of Saban's stubbornness in turning the offense over from Jalen Hurts to Tagovailoa, who everyone in the program understood at a certain point had passed Hurts' skill level. Saban unleashed Tua in the second-half of the national title game against Georgia, and it led to the most famous play in Alabama history.
3. Lane Kiffin (2014-2016)
This might be controversial to the many Lane Kiffin apologists who still reside in Tuscaloosa. Kiffin was brought in by Saban to modernize the Alabama attack, and he certainly did that. Alabama became one of the best offensive teams in the country under his guidance, and his willingness to adapt to his own style with Henry in 2015 directly led to a national title.
But his inability to be a grown-up also probably cost Alabama the national title in 2016. But under Kiffin, the Crimson Tide won three consecutive SEC Championships.
2. Jim McElwain (2008-2011)
The only Alabama offensive coordinator to call plays for multiple national titles this century, McElwain has a legitimate case to be No. 1 on this list. McElwain took over in 2008 for Saban's second team and helped Alabama win the title in both 2009 and 2011.
This era was more known for defense, and McElwain's offenses were asked to effectively manage the game and avoid turnovers. They did their job time and time again.
1. Steve Sarkisian (2019-2020)
After his off-the-field issues in college and then struggles as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator, Sarkisian was a controversial hire by Saban. It turned out to be a brilliant move. In 2020, Sarkisian piloted the ship for an all-time offense, with Alabama going undefeated and winning the national championship. There's a case for that team as the best in college football history.
Add us as a preferred source on Google