Nick Saban has two major decisions to make in trying to reestablish his run of national championships at the University of Alabama and restore a dominant culture.
The first move is a new defensive coordinator.
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Saban’s experiment with Pete Golding ended last week as he left the Crimson Tide to run the defense at Ole Miss.
The 37-year-old assisted Alabama to three Southeastern Conference Championships (2018, 2020-21) and a College Football Playoff National Championship (2020) in five seasons, but it did not have the fearsome effect on the sport with Golding.
A few names are in the conversation to replace Golding, but in what direction should Coach Saban go? He gained success with hiring from within the program in promoting Kirby Smart and Jeremy Pruitt; however, bumping up Tosh Lupoi and Golding from within did not work out. Saban went outside the program to bring Pruitt back to Tuscaloosa from Georgia and Florida State, and it worked. The result was not as fruitful in hiring Golding from the University of Texas-San Antonio. Saban enjoys rewarding coaches loyal to him inside the program, but he needs fresh, objective eyes outside the Crimson Tide to come in and help.
Alabama brought in fresh eyes on offense in 2014 with Lane Kiffin.
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He gave the Tide an upgrade, and his system led to three SEC Championships and a CFP National Championship in 2015.
Brian Daboll provided a different perspective in 2017 that yielded a national title, and Steve Sarkisian’s style took the Tide to an undefeated national championship in 2020. Saban needs someone to be honest and objective in returning the respect factor to Alabama’s defense. Glenn Schumann has been outside Saban’s program since 2016. He followed Smart to Georgia and helped build its defense into a feared unit. Schumann sat under Saban for four national championships, but he’s learned a lot from his seven years away from Tuscaloosa that could benefit Saban if he selects Schumann. One could say the same about Pruitt.
He has been away from the Alabama program since 2018.
Things did not work out for him as a head coach, but no one can deny his ability to coordinate defenses. He coached four national championships teams (2009, 2011, 2012, and 2017) and put his stamp on the most entertaining defense of the Saban era in 2016.
Jimmy Lake has never coached under Saban, but he’s an ideal name for a defensive coordinator.
He guided the University of Washington to have some of the nation’s best defenses from 2016 to 2019. Lake got the most from his defensive backs, sending several players to the National Football League. He did not coach anywhere in 2022, so Lake would have the best eyes looking at the Tide’s program. Saban could hire from within, but is someone ready to run the defense?
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Freddie Roach could get promoted to defensive coordinator; however, does another opportunity open for him first? DeMeco Ryans, Roach’s former teammate at Alabama, is interviewing for multiple NFL head coaching jobs. If he lands one, does he reach and take Roach to the league with him? It is possible. Todd Grantham is on staff as an off-field analyst, but he has coordinator experience in the SEC and NFL. Tide fans may not be open to Grantham operating the defense. Sal Sunseri served in an off-field role last season, but he has defensive coordinator experience at Tennessee (2012) and Alabama A&M from 1998 to 1999.
People would rather see him return as an on-field coach with outside linebackers, especially after Will Anderson’s and Dallas Turner’s production dropped in 2022. Saban needs objective eyes outside the program on defense. Alabama must land a coach it can have for at least three to five years. Pruitt and Lake would make the most sense. Schumann would be a great hire, but how long would he stay in Tuscaloosa? Jim Leonhard would be nice, yet rumors are stating his dream is to coach in the NFL.
We will see what Saban does, but he needs to hire outside the program.
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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.
