Top Candidates to Replace Alabama's Nick Saban
Legendary Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban announced his retirement Wednesday evening and sent the entire college football world into a frenzy. Saban’s legacy and impact on the game helped shape the modern world of college football we know today.
Saban’s departure leaves massive shoes to fill for the next candidate and has opened up massive speculation on who the next coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide will be. Despite reports of Oregon head coach Dan Lanning being in Tuscaloosa last night, it was later debunked by Lanning himself. But who realistically will be the next man in charge?
1. Texas HC Steve Sarkisian
Steve Sarkisian brought Texas back to relevance with their first Big 12 Championship since 20099. His ability to recruit and develop offensive talent has transformed the trajectory of the Longhorns’ future. While Texas is a massive, nationally recognized brand Sarkisian’s connections to Alabama and Nick Saban cannot go unrecognized. After a complicated departure from USC in 2015, Alabama was Sarkisian’s first opportunity to resurrect his coaching career. A return to Tuscaloosa would make perfect sense for both sides.
2. Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin
There hasn’t been a more active coach in the transfer portal this offseason than Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. His roster building has attracted some of the top names in college football like Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen. While Ole Miss is on a trajectory to be a sleeper in the SEC in 2024, there is strong potential for him to take over for his former boss. And we all know that Kiffin isn’t afraid to leave a program with awkward timing like the way he did with Tennessee in 2010.
3. Clemson HC Dabo Swinney
As a former Alabama wide receiver, Swinney has connections to the Alabama program and the region where he grew up. The two-time national championship-winning coach has hit a rough patch in his time at Clemson, producing his first season under 10 wins in over 12 years. It’s been heavily speculated that if the Alabama job were to ever open, Swinney would be quick to leave to coach for his alma mater.
