📡 Staff additions/changes: Reports: Craig Kuligowski hired as defensive line coach

[bama alum]

Hmm...Freeze on the field? I like the earlier report.

https://www.tidesports.com/latest-alabama-hugh-freeze-coaching-staff/

The latest with Alabama, Hugh Freeze, and the coaching staff
By
Aaron Suttles
-
January 17, 2018
50

0

Last Monday, Alabama won a national title. Since that time it’s been fast-paced and a little hectic inside the Mal Moore Building, which houses the football offices. In other words, Nick Saban has not been content to bask in the afterglow of the title. It’s quite the opposite actually. Saban has been driven since that time, interviewing and meeting with coach after coach after coach as he remakes the Alabama coaching staff. Here is the latest.
Freeze attack
Earlier this week, I reported that former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze had been in Tuscaloosa and at UA to meet with Saban. Saban respects Freeze’s offensive mind, and given the fact Ole Miss gave Alabama fits during Freeze’s tenure it’s easy to see why. So what would Freeze’s role be if Saban hired him? It’s a great question and one that, as of Tuesday morning, hadn’t been settled upon yet. Saban is really pushing for Freeze to be an on-the-field coach, The Tuscaloosa News has learned. Others in the program don’t want that happening. How much autonomy Saban has in this particular situation is unknown given Freeze’s recent history with the NCAA. Another aspect to this is that should Alabama decided to hire Freeze as an on-the-field coach, it would likely need the blessing of SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Sankey isn’t keen on that happening, The Tuscaloosa News has learned. At the moment, Mike Locksley appears to be in good position to land the offensive coordinator job, but nothing is certain. Normally the offensive coordinator works with the quarterbacks. Locksley is currently the wide receivers coach. As you can see, there are lots of moving parts at the moment and that speaks to how much Saban wants to or is open to shaking up the staff. Chris Weinke could be a candidate to coach wide receivers or quarterbacks should he get an on-the-field position. Freeze could do either, too, if he gets the nod. Freeze could also end up as an analyst, which is what most people are speculating as the most likely result. Again, right now things are moving quickly and nothing is decided.
More moves
Tight ends/special teams coach Joe Pannunzio will be moving to an off-the-field position, The Tuscaloosa News has learned. Pannunzio has been out on the recruiting trail this week, but I’m told this move is going to happen. Alabama has hired former Texas A&M coach Jeff Banks to be the special teams coach. Karl Scott, an assistant coach at Louisiana-Lafayette, has interviewed for a position on the defense. (AL.com was first to report this Tuesday morning). That hire is not official as of the moment, but it could be at some point during the day.
Shaking it up
As I previously reported, Saban wasn’t content to go into another season with the status quo. Recruiting is driving most of these decisions. Saban wants assistant coaches who will work hard to continue to bring the best talent in the country to Tuscaloosa. With recent SEC coaching changes, the competition for that talent is getting cutthroat. This is one of the most tumultuous offseasons I can remember during the Saban era in terms of the coaching staff. It’s moving fast and furious. And it’s not over yet.

 

[T&B]

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/a...labama-hires-louisiana-lafayettes-karl-scott/


Louisiana Lafayette defensive coordinator Karl Scott is “set to be hired” by Alabama. FootballScoop does not specify the role Scott will have at Alabama, only citing sources indicating a hire is set to be made.

Scott served as Texas Tech defensive backs coach for the last two seasons, only joining Louisiana Lafayette in recent weeks. Interestingly enough, he had been working for former Alabama staffer Billy Napier at Louisiana Lafayette during that time. Scott also has experience coaching defense at Louisiana Tech, Southeastern Louisiana, Tusculum and Delta State.

While FootballScoop may not have specific details of Scott’s role in Tuscaloosa, Matt Zenitz of AL.com recently reported that Scott would be a “name to keep an eye on” at defensive backs coach. Alabama’s former defensive backs coach, Derrick Ansley, left the program to take a job for Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders.

 

[rick4bama]

I'm glad we have this thread, because it hard to keep up.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I do not like Greg Sankey. He has that look on his face like he always smells shet.

 

[JoshB]

Since Brian Daboll left his position as Alabama’s offensive coordinator after only one year to return to the NFL ranks, many have been wondering who would fill that position in 2018.

Now, it appears the Crimson Tide are closing in on a new hire, and will promote from within rather than bring in an outside hire.

After it was reported that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey may have a problem with coach Nick Saban hiring former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, it was reported by FootballScoop.com that the Tide are expected to promote assistant Mike Locksley to the position:

Mike Locksley is expected to take over as offensive coordinator sources tell FootballScoop. Hugh Freeze has now met with Nick Saban. We hear Jimmy Sexton believes this is the right way to get Hugh back into things. Although this is not a done deal, most coaches we speak with believe Hugh will wind up at Alabama in some capacity.​

Locksley served as the Crimson Tide’s WR coach and co-offensive coordinator in 2017 and as an offensive analyst on Saban’s staff in 2016.

What will he do with the situation at quarterback, where Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa are competing for the starting spot? That remains to be seen, but it appears the Tide have their man to replace Daboll.

 

[TerryP]

After it was reported that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey may have a problem with coach Nick Saban hiring former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze,

I pointed to this a long time ago.

There's a dynamic at play with Sankey and his decision to "rubber stamp" Mo's transfer to UGA. Sankey doesn't want Freeze in the SEC. Saban is letting it known I'm considering it--your wishes be damned.

 

[UAgrad93]

I pointed to this a long time ago.

There's a dynamic at play with Sankey and his decision to "rubber stamp" Mo's transfer to UGA. Sankey doesn't want Freeze in the SEC. Saban is letting it known I'm considering it--your wishes be damned.

After Sankey folded up like a cheap suit on the Mo Smith saga, I'm glad to see Saban flipping him off like this. If the NCAA wasn't going to slam him, then the SEC or any other conference should have no additional penalties.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Just not a fan of Locksley as OC. Outside of a couple elite talents in Coop and Ridley, the WR corps has largely underperformed. This makes one question his positional coaching ability also.

I get he's a great recruiter, but at what expense?

 

[planomateo]

Saban > Sankey

 

[EasyTider]

Just not a fan of Locksley as OC. Outside of a couple elite talents in Coop and Ridley, the WR corps has largely underperformed. This makes one question his positional coaching ability also.

I get he's a great recruiter, but at what expense?

Do you dare question CNS?!?! Seriously though, I get it. Questioning his credentials based on his results at Illinois and Maryland seems legit, I don't think CNS is Dubose though. He could hire OJ. Locksley and Freeze consulting ok with me.

 

[BamaMD]

Being Reported that Mike Locksley has indeed been named Offensive Coordinator for BAMA

Mike Locksley to be named Alabama offensive coordinator

 

[18Champs]

 

[bama alum]

In regards to whiny barner Tate's tweet, 33/40 reported last night the SEC wasn't going to interfere with Saban's hiring of Freeze, if...he does indeed hire him.

 

[kbama15]

What I've read he's coming in to be QB coach/Co-OC.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

What I've read he's coming in to be QB coach/Co-OC.

And there's our 10th coaching position.

 

[gc90]

what I heard on finebaum on locksley is quite troubling .. the things at new Mexico

 

[JoshB]

what I heard on finebaum on locksley is quite troubling .. the things at new Mexico

Like?

 

[Destiny's Child]

what I heard on finebaum on locksley is quite troubling .. the things at new Mexico

I don't doubt that someone would have skeletons in the closet in past coaching stops but Saban runs a pretty tight ship. As far as, Finebaum.. it is the silly season, football is over and that is 90% of who listens to him... football nuts. He always begins to stir the pot this time of year to try and keep it interesting. Don't buy into his takes to much. He knows to get the most reaction during the off season his best bet is to say something to worry Bama fans. This means his lines will be lit up until he moves on to something else.

 

[UAgrad93]

what I heard on finebaum on locksley is quite troubling .. the things at new Mexico

You can't judge a coach by 2 1/2 seasons at a shitty school like New Mexico. He isn't going to be calling the shots. He had some pretty solid offenses at Illinois with Ron Zook as the HC, got them to a Rose Bowl and won it. Produced some of the best offense in Maryland history during his time there. Some guys aren't cut out to be an HC. They thrive as a position coach or coordinator.

 

[gc90]

I am talking about a bama fan who lives in Albuquerque who called in related to his off field issues incl sexual harrasment and the firing etc