A major coaching turnover happened after the University of Alabama football program won its fifth national championship under head coach, Nick Saban. The departures of Brian Daboll, Jeremy Pruitt, Derrick Ansley and Karl Dunbar among others, led to Saban’s pursuit of hiring fiery, young assistants that wanted to position themselves in the best spot to be successful.
Prior to spring practice starting, the Crimson Tide hired six new assistants and salaries on each one has been revealed via a report from Ben Jones of Tuscaloosa News.
After being a long-time assistant at Missouri and spending the last two seasons at Miami, Craig Kuligowski will make about $750,000 as the Crimson Tide’s defensive line coach and associate head coach. Co-defensive coordinator Pete Golding (inside linebackers) falls behind Kuligowski at $650,000, while secondary coach Karl Scott (safeties) rounds out the group with $350,000.
Co-offensive coordinator Josh Gattis (wide receivers) will pocket $525,0000. Special teams coach Jeff Banks, who is also coaching tight ends, is set to make $270,000. Quarterbacks coach Dan Enos is looking at $200,000.
Enos, like Kuligowksi, will have the title of associate head coach too.
Before arriving at Alabama, Golding was at University of Texas-San Antonio, Scott served at Texas Tech, Gattis was at Penn State, Banks was at Texas A&M and Enos was initially hired at Michigan as a wide receivers coach. He worked under Bret Bielema at Arkansas as an offensive coordinator, creating success with Brandon Allen and Austin Allen at the quarterback position.
Although information has not come out on Michael Locksley (offensive coordinator) and Tosh Lupoi (defensive coordinator), both guys are currently making their same salary from last season. Following his efforts in recruiting the 2017 cycle, Lupoi was bumped up to $970,000 and was once again critical in the Tide salvaging a top-10 signing class (No. 6) back in February.
All contracts must be approved by UA’s Board of Trustees.
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.
