Derek Dooley is officially an offensive analyst for Alabama football.
His name appears in the school’s football staff directory as an analyst. Dooley struggled in three seasons (2010-12) as a head coach at Tennessee. He posted a 15-21 record and left for the National Football League. Dooley coached wide receivers for the Dallas Cowboys (2013-17), tight ends for the New York Giants (2021), and served as a senior offensive analyst (2020) for the Giants. In between his NFL jobs, Dooley returned to college football in 2018 at the University of Missouri. He was an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for two years. He has experience with quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, and tight ends.
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Dooley has been an offensive coordinator and an assistant head coach.
He coached under Nick Saban at Louisiana State University from 2000 to 2004. He mentored tight ends and running backs. Dooley earned a BCS National Championship ring in 2003. He coached tight ends under Saban for the Miami Dolphins from 2005-06. The addition of Dooley as an analyst gives Alabama a wealth of knowledge to help Bill O’Brien. Zach Mettenberger, a former LSU quarterback, competed against Nick Saban for three years. He’s now an off-field analyst for the Crimson Tide.
Dooley knows Saban well and understands how the 70-year-old wants to balance the offense.
He will bring a sharp mind in mixing the run game and passing attack to make the Tide impossible to stop in the fall. Dooley had an effective rushing attack in his two head coaching stops. Daniel Porter was a two-time 1,000-yard rusher for Louisiana Tech in 2008 and 2009. Tauren Poole totaled 1,034 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns in Dooley’s first season at Tennessee in 2010.
Saban wants to regain a physical running style, and having Dooley helps.
Alabama will continue to attack with Bryce Young and its receiving options, but Dooley looks to assist the Crimson Tide into situations where it can be the most successful.
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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 @CoachingMSmith.
