During Alabama’s Pro Day on March 7, a familiar face was watching former Crimson Tide players audition for National Football League personnel and it was one that competed against head coach Nick Saban in the Southeastern Conference for five seasons at Tennessee.
Saban spoke the media on how much the program respected Butch Jones, and how Alabama was ‘interested’ in bringing on the ex-Volunteers head coach to its staff.
After working things out with the NCAA, Jones was officially cleared to work with the Tide on Tuesday. Following the team’s first practice of the spring semester, Saban took to the podium to clear questions on Jones’ role.
“He’s an intern, an analyst,” Saban said.
“He can’t coach on the field. He can work with us off the field. Today, was the first time he was cleared by the NCAA. We have these rules and I don’t even know what they are called, so we had to go through a process with the NCAA. That finally got completed today, so now he’s officially going to be a part of our staff.”
Jones, 50, posted a 34-27 record during his time at Tennessee.
He’s been regarded as an offensive mind, despite the assistants he has hired having more to do with the success that his teams have had. Prior to Tennessee, Jones also served as head coach at Central Michigan University (2007-09) and University of Cincinnati (2010-12).
He won two conference championships with both institutions, before leaving to coach the Volunteers.
Jones replaces the departures of Chris Weinke (Tennessee), Dan Werner (South Carolina) and Charlie Weiss Jr (Florida Atlantic) as an analyst.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
