Coaching carousel 2025-26

[NoNC4Tubs]

If we don't give him the time needed... We will become Auburn.

Firing a coach every 2-3 years will only result in your program falling apart.

In DeBoer's defense, last year was a clean out year. This year we are seeing more of where we are going and the running game and OL are very fixable. Recruiting has been amazing and we have by and large retained the players we want. It is still all about having a great roster and convincing guys to stay and buy in even in the portal era.

Totally agree!

It takes time to retool an offense...

 

[foreveratidefan]

Totally agree!

It takes time to retool an offense...

What about Placekicking?

 

[Cruloc]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1993431176745284075

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

What about Placekicking?

What about it? Has nothing to do with retooling an offense...

I'm not saying its not important, but that's kind of like comparing apples and roller skates.

 

[81usaf92]

I think way too many people are taking what is actually being said out of context and are making this a “blaming Saban for losses” bad faith argument.

What is actually being said is this:

1) Saban didn’t leave a championship ready program in place. I mean nearly every great player from that 2023 team left. Caleb downs and a crazy amount of defensive backs bolted the second that CNS retired. Bond was always going to leave. Seth and Nihlblack left, and a good deal of our running back and receiver depth left. Really only Milroe and Haynes were the experienced holdovers that anyone wanted still on the roster.



2) Saban’s staffs from 21-23 were not developing players as much as they were living off talent. Too many people act like because we won 2 SECCGs in that 3 year span it means we were an elite team. We weren’t… We were constantly struggling on the road, racking up penalties, and needed late game heroics to save us. We weren’t very disciplined and if you really want to be honest 21 and 22 we won those games mostly because Bryce was an equalizer and 23 might have been Saban’s greatest coaching job with the lack of talent and experience.

3) Saban was in transition on offense. We were going back to a big run team as early as 22 and it never really materialized like he envisioned. DeBoer takes over a team that doesn’t fit his style offensively in terms of personnel. We have a bunch of fat cows when we need a leaner offensive linemen group. But he is stuck with what he has for now.

What is not being said:

1) Saban lost those games in 24 and 25. Absolutely no one has said that. What is being said is that from a roster standpoint DeBoer wasn’t exactly left a rolls Royce

2) DeBoer has an infinite amount of time. I would say a big part of his future hangs on this game this week. Win and I think 26 has tempered expectations… lose and 26 becomes a “get to the playoffs or else” type of year.

3) Saban is to blame for an IB loss. Please….

So the idea that Saban left this great team ready for DeBoer and DeBoer destroyed it is just not true. Especially when you consider Saban himself had a hard time with that 23 team himself.

 

[Cruloc]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1993704717906513923

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1993704717906513923

Wow!

If true, Arky has just made the best hire of the year so far!

 

[BearFoot]

Because I have a totally different opinion than you I don’t know how things work…gotcha .

These examples you have going back to Al Davis…I’m pretty sure Saban must have been unaware he wasn’t supposed to hire Kifffin for OC when he did.

The results speak for itself. Matter of fact, if Saban doesn’t act out of knee-jerk reaction and lets Kiffin coach one more game then we win 2 NC’s instead of just one during Kiffin’s three year tenure….and Saban has 8 NC’s instead of 7.

But Saban has too much pride and it cost him.

Just like it boils down to pride why didn’t hire
him over DeBoer, and the point I made that don’t you think 10 years later if it was something so unforgivable it would have leaked by now?

Also, nobody on here is asking for a public statement from the university. Just ten years of people continually referencing things he done as insider information, but ironically never expanding upon that other than the Joey Freshwater deal.

Hey Lane..…I mean, Joey…..I mean, CountryTider……is that you behind the keyboard

 

[arthurdawg]

I think way too many people are taking what is actually being said out of context and are making this a “blaming Saban for losses” bad faith argument.

What is actually being said is this:

<redacted>

So the idea that Saban left this great team ready for DeBoer and DeBoer destroyed it is just not true. Especially when you consider Saban himself had a hard time with that 23 team himself.

Exactly... I think is a fair and balanced overview of the transition. I think one of the biggest issues is that except for Sark in 2019/20 and Steele in 2023, the quality of the coaching staffs declined. It has been discussed, but needs to be restated from time to time. I think many young and bright talents weren't ready for the time commitment or overall commitment working with Saban required and they were going elsewhere to find programs where they could do their own thing and have a life. I get that and don't blame them.

 

[jthomas666]

Starting to hear Golesh to Arkansas

Razorbacks expected to hire USF's Alex Golesh as next coach

Arkansas finally puts months long search to halt, hires coach with championship level roots

www.si.com

 

[graydogg85]

I think way too many people are taking what is actually being said out of context and are making this a “blaming Saban for losses” bad faith argument.

What is actually being said is this:

1) Saban didn’t leave a championship ready program in place. I mean nearly every great player from that 2023 team left. Caleb downs and a crazy amount of defensive backs bolted the second that CNS retired. Bond was always going to leave. Seth and Nihlblack left, and a good deal of our running back and receiver depth left. Really only Milroe and Haynes were the experienced holdovers that anyone wanted still on the roster.



2) Saban’s staffs from 21-23 were not developing players as much as they were living off talent. Too many people act like because we won 2 SECCGs in that 3 year span it means we were an elite team. We weren’t… We were constantly struggling on the road, racking up penalties, and needed late game heroics to save us. We weren’t very disciplined and if you really want to be honest 21 and 22 we won those games mostly because Bryce was an equalizer and 23 might have been Saban’s greatest coaching job with the lack of talent and experience.

3) Saban was in transition on offense. We were going back to a big run team as early as 22 and it never really materialized like he envisioned. DeBoer takes over a team that doesn’t fit his style offensively in terms of personnel. We have a bunch of fat cows when we need a leaner offensive linemen group. But he is stuck with what he has for now.

What is not being said:

1) Saban lost those games in 24 and 25. Absolutely has said that. What is being said is that from a roster standpoint DeBoer wasn’t exactly left a rolls Royce

2) DeBoer has an infinite amount of time. I would say a big part of his future hangs on this game this week. Win and I think 26 has tempered expectations… lose and 26 becomes a “get to the playoffs or else” type of year.

3) Saban is to blame for an IB loss. Please….

So the idea that Saban left this great team ready for DeBoer and DeBoer destroyed it is just not true. Especially when you consider Saban himself had a hard time with that 23 team himself.

Yeah, the mainstream media narrative that DeBoer was handed the keys to a Ferrari and turned it into an F150 misses the mark.

Saban’s 2021 & 2022 teams were 8-4 or 9-3 teams without Bryce Young. Heck, the 2022 team still lost 2 regular season games.

2023 was perhaps his strongest front-to-back coaching job because he didn’t have a generational talent at QB for the first time in several cycles, and was having to navigate NIL. Still, substitute Golding for Steele on that 2023 team and there’s a strong possibility we miss the playoffs. Still had some really sloppy, penalty-filled, near-miss games against subpar competition in 2023 (USF and Arkansas come to mind, and of course the Iron Bowl). Is he to blame for all struggles in 2025? Of course not, but he didn’t leave DeBoer the 1972 Dolphins either.

Saban is still the best to do it in the modern era, there’s absolutely no question. But his last three teams were showing cracks in the foundation, even with the SEC titles. And then you consider that something like 40 players portaled out when he retired, plus the schematic overhaul on both sides of the ball and a pretty brutal two-year schedule and it’s no wonder we’ve lost six games in the last two seasons. Honestly, I think it could have been much, much worse and personally that’s why I think CKD is still the right person for the job. I said this in another thread, but I still vividly remember Dubose inheriting a 10-win divisional champion team and promptly running them into the ditch in 1997, which is much closer to the Ferrari analogy. CKD is a handful of plays away from making the playoff in his first season, and having a one-loss team in his second season. Not remotely the same thing, and I have a hard time identifying anyone that was available in the 2023 / 2024 coaching cycle who would have done appreciably better. Including Kiffin, who was not on the table for very good reasons as you noted previously. He’s done an excellent job overall at Ole Miss but his teams still seem to manage to throw up all over themselves once or twice a year (Kentucky in 2024 and a near miss versus Wazzu this season come to mind). To quote JessN, Kiffin is a great offensive mind and perhaps the best pure QB coach in the game, but he still has a tendency to call plays at times like he’s holding a PlayStation controller.

Unless Kirby or Sark were available and willing to come (they weren’t), CKD was the strongest hire we could have made IMO. And if it really came down to CKD and Mike Norvell as has been reported, we should put something extra in Byrne’s Christmas stocking this year (and its probably worth noting that given the 2022-2023 run Norvell had at FSU and their general upward trajectory at the time, no one would have been upset by that hire).

End rant. Roll Tide.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Kane's defense has played strong down the stretch. I wouldn't mind having him around for another year... Arky is a graveyard too, but the money is probably worth it.

If this defense had one of the types of defensive tackles Saban used to have in his hayday defenses, this defense would be very dominant. They've played very well for not having a disruptive DT.

 

[arthurdawg]

If this defense had one of the types of defensive tackles Saban used to have in his hayday defenses, this defense would be very dominant. They've played very well for not having a disruptive DT.

Yes... We have average joes on the inside, albeit pretty durned good hard working excellent really above average joes.

A 5* disruptor to complement Pierre and our young outside guys would be very nice. Hard to get though. I do think with Pierre, Hill, Carter, Keeley, Reynaud, and Kelby we have a very good group of ends who can wreak havoc next year. We may lose one of two, but it is a great start. And... Beaman, London, Hill, Fagia, and the other dudes on the roster aren't bad.

 

[arthurdawg]

Yeah, the mainstream media narrative that DeBoer was handed the keys to a Ferrari and turned it into an F150 misses the mark.

Saban’s 2021 & 2022 teams were 8-4 or 9-3 teams without Bryce Young. Heck, the 2022 team still lost 2 regular season games.

2023 was perhaps his strongest front-to-back coaching job because he didn’t have a generational talent at QB for the first time in several cycles, and was having to navigate NIL. Still, substitute Golding for Steele on that 2023 team and there’s a strong possibility we miss the playoffs. Still had some really sloppy, penalty-filled, near-miss games against subpar competition in 2023 (USF and Arkansas come to mind, and of course the Iron Bowl). Is he to blame for all struggles in 2025? Of course not, but he didn’t leave DeBoer the 1972 Dolphins either.

...

Unless Kirby or Sark were available and willing to come (they weren’t), CKD was the strongest hire we could have made IMO. And if it really came down to CKD and Mike Norvell as has been reported, we should put something extra in Byrne’s Christmas stocking this year (and its probably worth noting that given the 2022-2023 run Norvell had at FSU and their general upward trajectory at the time, no one would have been upset by that hire).

End rant. Roll Tide.

Amen. My sentiments expressed much better than I could.

 

[KrAzY3]

The results speak for itself. Matter of fact, if Saban doesn’t act out of knee-jerk reaction and lets Kiffin coach one more game then we win 2 NC’s instead of just one during Kiffin’s three year tenure….and Saban has 8 NC’s instead of 7.

But Saban has too much pride and it cost him.

I think you might be unware of how that Washington game went, since you seem to have some idea that Kiffin was ready to do his job and Saban fired him because he felt like it or something.

If I recall correctly, one of the most respected and well connected posters here said that Kiffin was "hungover". I'm not sure if that's the case, but I was at the game, the offense was clearly out of sync. The other quote I heard was that he was calling plays that the team had not been practicing.

You don't do that by the way, you can't call plays the team isn't prepared to run. What we do know for a fact, 100%, is that Saban decided a switch had to be made immediately, after mind you, letting Kiffin call plays for the first round of the playoffs. You don't do that unless you think you need to. We also know, as Kiffin himself has stated, that he had a drinking problem.

So... I'm not sure what kind of revisionist version you are trying for here, but something was amiss, therefore Kiffin had to be replaced. It's as simple as that. This doesn't speak to Kiffin as a coach now, it speaks to Kiffin the coach in those playoffs, where something was clearly off.

I do for the record think it cost Alabama a national championship. But I always viewed it as Kiffin taking back the one he helped Alabama earn previously. If he's ready to do his job, he stays on, and Alabama likely wins. He wasn't though.

If it really came down to CKD and Mike Norvell as has been reported, we should put something extra in Byrne’s Christmas stocking this year

I have a slightly different take. First, if Byrne had Norvell in his top two that says something really bad about the selection process Byrne is using. Rewarding him for not making a truly idiotic hire seems odd.

Secondly, I myself used the handed the keys to a Ferrari line and I still believe it. Was it a perfect team? No, but just look at the success the players are having elsewhere. It was a loaded team. Julian Sayin, already enrolled, he's now leading the top team in the country. Justice Haynes, one of the leading rushers in the nation until he got hurt. Caleb Downs, one of the top defenders in the nation, helped lead Ohio State to a championship.

That's just focusing on guys that left when Saban did. And it's fair to say well that's not DeBoer's fault, but point being is Alabama's talent was second to none. It had some issues at receiver, that's obvious. But it was a stacked team, not some second rate lineup. It's not like what Cignetti inherited at Indiana or something. All the pieces were there for a contender really. It was a team that came off being a single play away from not just going to the championship game, but being a heavy favorite.

Now, the fair point to make would be that the Alabama team was an F1 car and DeBoer is used to driving Nascar. Or, you could argue Saban was such a good coach he made a Corvette look like a Ferrari, but to that point the talent is there if you go over the roster. So I'm not buying the idea that Saban just made the team look way better than it was or something. Remember, this team, for all it's alleged flaws still only lost 6 games in the past 3 seasons (two of those losses coming to the national champs in the playoffs). Those were very good teams, not the best Saban teams but still good.

 

[81usaf92]

I think you might be unware of how that Washington game went, since you seem to have some idea that Kiffin was ready to do his job and Saban fired him because he felt like it or something.

If I recall correctly, one of the most respected and well connected posters here said that Kiffin was "hungover". I'm not sure if that's the case, but I was at the game, the offense was clearly out of sync. The other quote I heard was that he was calling plays that the team had not been practicing.

You don't do that by the way, you can't call plays the team isn't prepared to run. What we do know for a fact, 100%, is that Saban decided a switch had to be made immediately, after mind you, letting Kiffin call plays for the first round of the playoffs. You don't do that unless you think you need to. We also know, as Kiffin himself has stated, that he had a drinking problem.

So... I'm not sure what kind of revisionist version you are trying for here, but something was amiss, therefore Kiffin had to be replaced. It's as simple as that. This doesn't speak to Kiffin as a coach now, it speaks to Kiffin the coach in those playoffs, where something was clearly off.

I do for the record think it cost Alabama a national championship. But I always viewed it as Kiffin taking back the one he helped Alabama earn previously. If he's ready to do his job, he stays on, and Alabama likely wins. He wasn't though.

I have a slightly different take. First, if Byrne had Norvell in his top two that says something really bad about the selection process Byrne is using. Rewarding him for not making a truly idiotic hire seems odd.

Secondly, I myself used the handed the keys to a Ferrari line and I still believe it. Was it a perfect team? No, but just look at the success the players are having elsewhere. It was a loaded team. Julian Sayin, already enrolled, he's now leading the top team in the country. Justice Haynes, one of the leading rushers in the nation until he got hurt. Caleb Downs, one of the top defenders in the nation, helped lead Ohio State to a championship.

That's just focusing on guys that left when Saban did. And it's fair to say well that's not DeBoer's fault, but point being is Alabama's talent was second to none. It had some issues at receiver, that's obvious. But it was a stacked team, not some second rate lineup. It's not like what Cignetti inherited at Indiana or something. All the pieces were there for a contender really. It was a team that came off being a single play away from not just going to the championship game, but being a heavy favorite.

Now, the fair point to make would be that the Alabama team was an F1 car and DeBoer is used to driving Nascar. Or, you could argue Saban was such a good coach he made a Corvette look like a Ferrari, but to that point the talent is there if you go over the roster. So I'm not buying the idea that Saban just made the team look way better than it was or something. Remember, this team, for all it's alleged flaws still only lost 6 games in the past 3 seasons (two of those losses coming to the national champs in the playoffs). Those were very good teams, not the best Saban teams but still good.

DeBoer had zero percent chance of keeping Caleb Downs. So you can’t really hold that against him.

Sayin… it’s a bit murky. What the true story about it varies from who you talk to but I do think Deboer and him had differences of opinions on the future.

Haynes… Saban left Haynes on the sidelines when he was night and day better than the backs we had and Deboer convinced him to come back after getting massive offers elsewhere. It just didn’t pan out here.


23 was one of the weakest and least experienced Bama teams in the Saban era, and the second he retired all of the potential returning talent except Milroe, Haynes, and Moore left in that 30 days. We found ourselves depleted at DB, DL, and receiver. We were heavily relying on underclassmen making their first starts and the few that DeBoer was able to bring in through the spring portal. Everyone needs to stop acting like the 23 and 24 teams are similar teams just because we have Milroe starting.

 

[Joefus]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1993704717906513923

Dear 3 pound 8 ounce sweet baby Jesus please let kiffin stay at ole miss and lsu swoop in and take the Tulane coach.

Florida is gonna really screw the pooch on this hire aren’t they hahahah

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

Yet another coaching rumor:

Alabama coach connected to California job opening

Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has been linked to the California job opening before Saturday's game against Auburn.

www.newsweek.com

This wouldn't bother me as much as losing Wommack ... who has been masterful, turning around our D.

 

[Joefus]

This wouldn't bother me as much as losing Wommack ... who has been masterful, turning around our D.

Newsweek has been dropping daily articles on all the coaching vacancies and they are very light on actually reporting and heavy on a guy said this on a podcast. I’ll worry when there’s something more substantial than Bruce Feldman saying “he may be an attractive name given his west coast connections”

 

[graydogg85]

I think you might be unware of how that Washington game went, since you seem to have some idea that Kiffin was ready to do his job and Saban fired him because he felt like it or something.

If I recall correctly, one of the most respected and well connected posters here said that Kiffin was "hungover". I'm not sure if that's the case, but I was at the game, the offense was clearly out of sync. The other quote I heard was that he was calling plays that the team had not been practicing.

You don't do that by the way, you can't call plays the team isn't prepared to run. What we do know for a fact, 100%, is that Saban decided a switch had to be made immediately, after mind you, letting Kiffin call plays for the first round of the playoffs. You don't do that unless you think you need to. We also know, as Kiffin himself has stated, that he had a drinking problem.

So... I'm not sure what kind of revisionist version you are trying for here, but something was amiss, therefore Kiffin had to be replaced. It's as simple as that. This doesn't speak to Kiffin as a coach now, it speaks to Kiffin the coach in those playoffs, where something was clearly off.

I do for the record think it cost Alabama a national championship. But I always viewed it as Kiffin taking back the one he helped Alabama earn previously. If he's ready to do his job, he stays on, and Alabama likely wins. He wasn't though.

I have a slightly different take. First, if Byrne had Norvell in his top two that says something really bad about the selection process Byrne is using. Rewarding him for not making a truly idiotic hire seems odd.

Secondly, I myself used the handed the keys to a Ferrari line and I still believe it. Was it a perfect team? No, but just look at the success the players are having elsewhere. It was a loaded team. Julian Sayin, already enrolled, he's now leading the top team in the country. Justice Haynes, one of the leading rushers in the nation until he got hurt. Caleb Downs, one of the top defenders in the nation, helped lead Ohio State to a championship.

That's just focusing on guys that left when Saban did. And it's fair to say well that's not DeBoer's fault, but point being is Alabama's talent was second to none. It had some issues at receiver, that's obvious. But it was a stacked team, not some second rate lineup. It's not like what Cignetti inherited at Indiana or something. All the pieces were there for a contender really. It was a team that came off being a single play away from not just going to the championship game, but being a heavy favorite.

Now, the fair point to make would be that the Alabama team was an F1 car and DeBoer is used to driving Nascar. Or, you could argue Saban was such a good coach he made a Corvette look like a Ferrari, but to that point the talent is there if you go over the roster. So I'm not buying the idea that Saban just made the team look way better than it was or something. Remember, this team, for all it's alleged flaws still only lost 6 games in the past 3 seasons (two of those losses coming to the national champs in the playoffs). Those were very good teams, not the best Saban teams but still good.

The point with Norvell is that no one would have thought it was an idiotic hire in January 2024. He was 23-4 at FSU the two prior seasons and had just finished an undefeated regular season with a conference title. We have the benefit of hindsight now, of course. At the time, he would have been universally viewed as anywhere from a good to great hire.

Downs was gone as soon as Saban retired from what I heard; didn’t matter who we hired. Sayin - he’s good, but he’s not starting at Alabama as a true freshman in 2024. Remember that prior to 2024, Milroe was viewed as a fringe Heisman candidate. As far as 2025 goes, I’d argue that you put Ty on OSU’s roster and Sayin on ours and face the exact same schedule, and you’d very likely see very similar results on both sides. Sayin is an elite talent but is also mostly the product of a pillow soft schedule in 2025 IMO. Haynes, I can’t really comment on. Hate that he left but it happens. I would also argue that for the most part Michigan didn’t face the murderous schedule that we’ve faced this season.

I would disagree that the talent Saban left was “second to none”. Very good, yes. But not stacked three-deep with NFL talent like we had from 2009-2020 or so. Those days are long gone in the NIL era. There are probably 10-15 teams in major CFB at a minimum that can match bodies with us. Possibly more.

I’m not arguing that DeBoer is flawless and deserves no criticism. There was a lack of discipline and composure in 2024 that led to some losses to inferior opponents. I’m just saying that of the available candidates in January 2024, I think he was the best choice and the correct choice. There’s not a CNS available in every hiring cycle. Time will tell if we can do better, but I can assure you that we could have done far, far worse.