On Monday, Alabama officially hired its new tight ends coach and special teams coordinator Drew Svoboda, who is taking over for Jay Graham who left the team due to mental health concerns at the beginning of spring practice.
Svoboda comes over from the University of Memphis where he served as the special team’s coordinator for one spring. He also has three years of experience at Rive in the same position.
Despite the strong resume, Svoboda will not be completely thrown into the fire this spring as he was a late addition. Special assistant to the head coach, Todd Watson will continue to oversee the Crimson Tide’s special teams for the remainder of the spring as Svoboda gets settled.
“Todd Watson was really sort of the No. 1 intern on special teams, so he’s kind of running the special teams,” Saban said to reporters on Wednesday. “It’s the first time I’ve ever had to hire a guy in the middle of spring practice, so we’re not gonna throw (Svoboda) out there in front to the players.
“He’s learning our system, he’s learning our scheme, he’s actually having input in the meetings but really can’t coach the players.”
Alabama will be back on the practice field on Friday as it prepares for its second scrimmage of the spring on Saturday.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
