*****Alabama assistant coaching updates (January 17) ****** | BamaInsider.com
January 17 Update
Here are where things stand as of Thursday, January 17
Head Coach: Nick Saban
Offensive Coordinator: Steve Sarkisian (has not officially been announced by Saban)
Quarterbacks Coach: TBA (Likely Steve Sarkisian)
Running Backs: Butch Jones (Not sure what will happen with Joe Pannunzio)
Receivers Coach: TBA
Offensive Line Coach: TBA
Tight Ends Coach/Special Teams: Jeff Banks
Defensive Coordinator/Insider Linebackers: Pete Golding (has not officially been announced by Saban)
Outside Linebackers: TBA
Defensive Line Coach: Craig Kuligowski
Secondary Coach: Karl Scott
The Latest
Tosh Lupoi takes defensive line position with the Cleveland Browns
Weāll start with the biggest news from Wednesday: Tosh Lupoi is out as defensive coordinator and the outside linebackers coach at Alabama. As I mentioned back on Sunday, Saban wanted Lupoi out and with Freddie Kitchens landing the head coaching job at Cleveland, that made for a perfect spot to push Lupoi to.
I heard that Saban helped Lupoi get that position with the Browns so Lupoi would not end up coaching at Georgia. The loss of Lupoi will have a good effect on recruiting as Lupoi was their āwest coachā guy, but overall Saban felt that Lupoi could not handle the responsibility of calling the defense. Weād build a defensive coordinator hot board, but that does not make sense with Pete Golding already on staff.
Expect Golding to be named the defensive coordinator and this also gives us insight to why Golding did not leave to Ole Miss, when the Rebels put some real money on the table. Looks like Saban wanted to keep Golding and this was all Sabanās plan.
Butch Jones to be running backs coach at Alabama
Jones was basically down to three options at the end of the season: Try to find a head coaching position, go with Mike Locksley to Maryland or stay at Alabama in some capacity. The end result was staying at Alabama where he will coach the running backs. I was able to confirm late Wednesday evening that Jones will indeed coach the running backs. Now, what does that mean for current running backs coach Joe Pannunzio? Not exactly sure, last year Pannunzio was supposed to take an off the field position but ended up being named the running backs coach and it was Burton Burns who took the off the field role.
Vinnie Sunseri joins Alabamaās staff
Reports came out Wednesday evening that former Alabama safety Vinnie Suneri was named as a graduate assistant. Sunseri who played at Alabama as a freshman in 2011 was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2014 in the 5th round. Sunseri also was a member of the New England Patriots and the 49ers before joining the Crimson Tide coaching staff.
Lance Taylor has interviewed twice for receivers position
Taylor, who spent the past two seasons as the wide receivers coach for the Carolina Panthers, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2007-08. He played for the Crimson Tide from 1999-2003 and has two interviews by Nick Saban, but has not been offered a job just yet.
Read more here
Kyle Flood is a candidate for the offensive line position
Flood spent the past two years as the Falconsā assistant offensive line coach. In 2017, he helped offensive line coach Chris Morgan produce a unit that ranked tied for No. 3 in the NFL, surrendering just 24 sacks. However, this season the Falcons have struggled up front, giving up 42 sacks while averaging just 98.3 yards per game on the ground.
Read more here
Is Craig Kuligowski out as well?
I have not been able to confirm if Kuligowski is out as Alabamaās defensive line coach. This news would not surprise me and it looks like Kuligowski has interviewed to be the new head coach at Northern Illinois. More to come.
Who left and to where
Mike Locksley - Former Offensive Coordinator - Maryland Head Coach
Josh Gattis - Former WR Coach - Michigan OC
Dan Enos - Former QB Coach - Miami OC
Brent Key - Former OL Coach - Associate HC at Georgia Tech
Tosh Lupoi - Former Defensive Coordinator - Cleveland Brownās DL Coach
To Recap
Nick Saban needs to fill the following positions
QB Coach (Likely Sarkisian)
OC Coordinator (Likely Sarkisian)
WR Coach
OL Coach
DC Coordinator (Likely Golding)
OLB Coach
