🏈 Nick Saban weighs in on James Willis' departure

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Saban publicly wishes Willis well at Texas Tech, saying "We always want our assistants to advance professionally in terms of their careers and we are very happy for him."

Read More Here...

 

[Argo]

Rumors are Jeremy Pruitt has been promoted to assistant coach.

 

[Oiler99]

I am thankful for the contributions made by coach Willis. He is a fine defensive assistant. But, ultimately, he wasn't where he truly wanted to be. He wants to be home, which is unfortunately at the barn. He knows that under the current staff there, that's not an option. That's not to say that he didn't like it in T Town. It just wasn't his "home". I wish him the best at Texas Tech.

 

[rolltyroll]

Absolutely right. I was fortunate enough to meet Coach Willis when I was a senior at Sweet Water High School. He came out to our football practice to watch Anthony Landrum. Great guy with a great personality. I wish him all the best.

 

['65 Cobra]

Saban is a class act.

 

[Argo]

The school has already made him available to the media. Here's a partial transcript:

On relationship with Coach Tuberville:
JW: “It’s huge, because Coach Tuberville and I go a long way back. I started my whole coaching career underneath him as a graduate assistant. I spent about three years under him in that capacity. I wanted to be an assistant coach and he sent me out to spread my wings a little bit and learn a little bit. I coached at a few different spots before I came back to him when he hired me. He really let me grow as a coach, and that’s one thing about him, like players, he gives you the opportunity to grow. I’m grateful for that.

On the defensive style and changes he may make:
JW: “This defense was very good last year. Some people may look at their record and kind of change things around, but these guys competed well. I turned on the game film and watched them play against Texas and some other schools. They compete now. They get after you, they’re hard-nosed, blue collar, and that’s what we’ll continue to be. We’ll be aggressive, fly around and get to the ball, that’s what we’ll continue to do.

On the deciding factor for leaving Alabama:
JW: “It was very hard to leave that place; it truly was, because I had a great time there. Everybody talks about the bowl game and victory, but to me it wasn’t so much the victory and getting to the championship, it was the process and the road getting there. I think my time with Coach Saban and what I learned was, of course, the formula. I will try to do the same thing here and run the same type of program and the same attitude. So, I’m excited to come here and for the opportunity and I think we have a chance to be pretty good.”

On how much the 2009 season helped prepare him for this position:
JW: “Tremendously. One thing Coach Saban always preached was it’s not always about the results, it’s about the process. If we can stay focused on doing the right things and focus on the technique, the fundamentals and being a student of the game, those things really pay off in the end. Once our kids buy into that and believe in it, we’ll be good.”

On what type of defense he will run:
JW: “Well, especially in this conference, it’s known for throwing the ball. We had a chance last year at Alabama to play against a few offenses that did the same type of thing and spread the ball around. You turn on the film and what you see is a lot of points being scored out here (in the Big 12) and the defenses are really trying to get after the teams and slow them down some; and, we’ll do the same thing. We going to be aggressive, that’s what we do, and that’s going to be our motto.”

 

[bamajt]

I'm glad to see one of our coaches getting a promotion. Congrats to Coach Willis and thanks for everything you did for the team.

 

[JoshB]

I wonder if he'll implement the 3-4 in TT