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

[TerryP]

It’s also funny that Kiffin couldn’t get it done with athletes playing the QB position...

Let's clarify that a little bit...

 

[Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com]

A few names to keep in mind as Alabama hires a new offensive coordinator.

Once again, Alabama is in the market for a new offensive coordinator. This is the third such search since Lane Kiffin took the FAU head job officially began Sunday afternoon with Brian Daboll going to the Buffalo Bills.

That leaves Nick Saban needing to hire both an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator a week after winning a national championship.

So, who will be the fourth Alabama offensive coordinator in the last 13 months? We have a list of candidates worth exploring for the Crimson Tide.

Mike Locksley, Alabama WR coach

The former New Mexico head coach is the early favorite for the job. He brings continuity to the quarterback situation after spending last year coaching the receivers and the year before that as an Alabama offensive analyst.

Locksley has offensive coordinator experience at Illinois (2005-08) and Maryland (2012-15). He was also the interim head coach of the Terps after Randy Edsall was fired. Saban has not promoted from within for the offensive coordinator job except for last year when Steve Sarkisian was bumped up from offensive analyst to coordinator before the Peach Bowl.

Several former and current Alabama players voiced their support for Locksley's promotion Sunday on social media.

George Godsey, Detroit Lions assistant

The former Houston Texans offensive coordinator was a candidate for the Alabama OC job when Daboll was ultimately hired a year ago. He went to the Detroit Lions instead as a defensive assistant in charge of special projects. Godsey coached three seasons under Bill Belichick with the Patriots, so working for Saban wouldn't be such a shock to the system.

Dan Enos, Michigan WR coach

The former Arkansas offensive coordinator's name has been mentioned with Alabama openings in the past. He recently was hired by Michigan as the receivers coach, though a coordinator role is possible, according to the Detroit Free Press. He's getting paid $150,000 a year for the first season, the Free Press reported but would get bumped to at least $750,000 with a coordinator title.

Jedd Fisch, former UCLA offensive coordinator

Like Godsey, Fisch was a candidate for the job last year when Daboll was hired. He had a job as the UCLA offensive coordinator leading QB Josh Rosen at the time. Now, he's currently a free agent. Fisch has been an offensive coordinator all but one year since 2009 with Minnesota, Miami Hurricanes, Jacksonville Jaguars, Michigan and UCLA.

Chip Long, Notre Dame offensive coordinator

The North Alabama grad and Birmingham native just finished his first season at Notre Dame. He helped turn around a 4-8 team in 2016 into one in playoff contention through early November. Before that, Long was the offensive coordinator for the dynamic 2016 Memphis team. He brings youth and success with multiple offensive schemes.

Continue reading...

 

[TerryP]

Chip Long To Be The Next Offensive Coordinator At Alabama?



The Notre Dame Fighting Irish appear to be getting poached by the SEC once again. There is a very serious and very likely rumor floating around the internet that Notre Dame's offensive coordinator, Chip Long, will take the same job under Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

This rumor is running rampant on Alabama message boards with some posters claiming that this is a done deal. How much validity you want to take from these "sources" is up to you, but if you're an Alabama fan right now - you're probably sold on Chip Long moving to Tuscaloosa

 

[Alabama17Tide]

*From Rivals / BamaInsider
Also, I have to update you on some information I got on Locksley. I was tipped by someone very close to the program that Locksley and Florida State were in communication and it was possible he would join FSU in some capacity. Things went cold between FSU and Locksley as the weekend went on and it's obvious why. Alabama caught wind of Daboll leaving and had to have contacted Locksley about the job opening.

 

[OriginalBamachris]

Also a hugh mike shula fan...but NO as OC....no...no...no........
I would love for him to come back to Bama as QB coach...maybe..analysis...maybe ...not HC or OC...
Thanks or job he did when we needed him....he did great...stabilized things in rocky times...

Maybe QB coach. Shula is a southpaw.

 

[PurlJam]

Sal Sunseri as D.C.? He just left the Raiders as LB coach to take over as the Gaytors DL coach. As O.C., does it really matter? CNS has had 6 in 10 years going on 7, won 5 out of the last 9 NC....just can't seem to find the "oh shit, we're doomed button."

 

[JoshB]

It’s also funny that Kiffin couldn’t get it done with athletes playing the QB position...

Man, some of you "fans" are worse than Barners.

 

[tide92]

It's Stoops man.

 

[Tidestalker]

Man, some of you "fans" are worse than Barners.

No kidding! Have you seen the Championship game thread? SMH

 

[BamaFan334]

I thought I read where Locksley went to Colorado State. Am I missing something here?

 

[OldPlayer]

I thought I read where Locksley went to Colorado State. Am I missing something here?

Ansley went to Colorado State, but then turned left and went to the Oakland Raiders before his first day on the job in Colorado.

 

[bamachine]

Dammit, y'all changed my title...I know why but still.

 

[Tidestalker]

I thought I read where Locksley went to Colorado State. Am I missing something here?

Think that was ANSLEY... Who ended up with the Raiders instead

 

[Bamabww]

Interesting Mike Shula story: the day Mike had his hand / foot prints put in place at Denny Chimes we were in attendance. Don Shula was there as well and we were actually standing next to him in the crowd. I told him I was proud of Mike and had enjoyed his time at Alabama as our QB. I mentioned that Mike had more wins as a starting QB than any other QB in the SEC while he started for Bama. He replied “really? I didn’t know that. “
As the ceremony ended and the crowd thinned out, I asked Mike if I could take his picture with my 6 year old son. He agreed and I got the picture.
In 2003, my son was graduating from law school at Bama and I sent that picture to Then coach Mike Shula and asked him to autograph it. He did and sent back a nice note with it congratulating my son and saying he remembered the occasion.
I’ve always appreciated Mike for doing that and have a place in my heart for him. He was in over his head no doubt as our coach and now that he’s not helping Cam anymore I can pull for him again.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Mike was signing stuff at Aday...and showed him pics us me n ms50+ (From year before)and granson..was limited to one item...he not only did both but personilized them...stood up..shook our hands...and said he hoped one day to be able to recruit Lucas ( our granson)...was beyond fantastic...

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Ansley went to Colorado State, but then turned left and went to the Oakland Raiders before his first day on the job in Colorado.

I still find it odd that the Ansley to Col State was dropped on GameDay with former Georgia Bulldog Mike Bobo being the HC for CSU. Just a coincidence I am sure.

 

[252BAMA]

I think my list would be

Sterlin Gilbert
Hugh Freeze
Dan Enos
Dan Werner
Jed Fisch
Rick Neuheisel
Matt Canada just for the melt

Best one out there is Mike Yurcich.

Oklahoma State University Athletics - 2016 Football Coaching Staff

Here is how Gundy found him:

How Oklahoma State built college football's top offense.

 

[planomateo]

 

[bamachine]

^Mere chump change, they should donate it to a worthy cause, like me.

 

[RollllTide!]

SWSIO. duh Saban will sort it out. Don't worry y'all's pretty little head about it one second. Trust the process.