Kalen DeBoer will be the man leading Alabama football into a new era. On Monday, the last of his on-field coaches was reportedly finalized. Leading the Crimson Tide this fall will be a collection of two returning faces, a fresh batch of coaches from DeBoer’s prior stops and a pair of former head coaches.
While none of these hires are official, each of DeBoer’s expected assistants will get its first introduction to the public in April for the spring game, the first scrimmage without Nick Saban manning the sidelines since 2007.
The University of Alabama hasn’t announced any of the reported hires. Its team coaching page only lists DeBoer. Here are the positions that have been filled and confirmed either via each coach’s social media page and various outlets:
- Kane Wommack (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
- Ryan Grubb (offensive coordinator)
- Freddie Roach (assistant head coach/defensive line)
- Maurice Linguist (defensive backs/co-defensive coordinator)
- Colin Hitschler (defensive backs/co-defensive coordinator)
- JaMarcus Shephard (wide receiver)
- Scott Huff (offensive line)
- Nick Sheridan (tight ends)
- Robert Gillespie (running backs)v
DeBoer commented on Wommack, Roach and Gillespie at a news conference at the Senior Bowl last week. Yet, even with a majority of positions seemingly filled, there are two questions left to answer.
The first surrounds UA’s special teams coordinator. On Monday night, William Inge, who has experience as a special teams coach, was reported to join DeBoer from Washington. He would be the 10th and final on-field gameday staffer Alabama would be allowed to employ.
Shortly after that, multiple outlets cited that Oklahoma senior special teams analyst Jay Nunez was set to join DeBoer’s staff. With the Sooners, Nunez was in an off-the-field role, yet, per FootballScoop and Sooners Illustrated, it’s “unclear” what roles Inge, listed as a potential linebacker coach option, and Nunez will end up taking.
Nunez began his coaching career with Pittsburg State in 2005. He spent a year with Southern Illinois and was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan before moving to Oklahoma.
DeBoer has already found a few key recruiting staffers from North Carolina State’s Jatavis Sanders and former UA student Jerret McElwain. UA reportedly isn’t retaining Charlie Strong and other former head coaches who worked under Saban as analysts.
The other question mark surrounds Grubb. On Feb. 1, Grubb was linked to the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator opening. That has yet to be filled. The New York Giants blocked Seattle from interviewing potential candidate Mike Kafka. A former UA coordinator, Tommy Rees, was announced Monday as the Cleveland Browns’ tight ends coach and passing game specialist.
Grubb, who previously expressed interest in taking over for DeBoer at The University of Washington, was reportedly recruiting for UA along with other coaches over the weekend.