Who’s Next in DC for Nick Saban?

As reported Chris Low, Alabama football is open at Defensive Coordinator. Pete Golding, as Ole Miss fans have been saying for days, will join Lane Kiffin in Oxford in the same position he held in Tuscaloosa.

Many Alabama football fans are so pleased; that’s pretty much the same as the Crimson Tide winning a national championship. And who knows, maybe if Golding had left a year ago, the undefeated Crimson Tide would have been playing for a national title in the 2022 season.

Many names are mentioned as possibilities for Golding’s successor. Certainly Nick Saban was well prepared for the transition. Saban might even have made it easier.

Most Alabama fans are talking about Jeremy Pruitt’s possible return. Some Tide fans predicting Pruitt’s return also say Sal Sunseri will return to an on-field role as well. What is unknown about Pruitt is whether the NCAA can block his hiring, or whether the NCAA can impose a severe penalty on Pruitt after the NCAA’s investigation into Tennessee is over?

There is no public information on the NCAA’s position, but Alabama’s compliance department should already have an answer.

Two other hot names for Alabama Football Defensive Coordinator are Jim Leonhard and Glenn Schumann. Hiring Schumann away from Kirby Smart’s staff will take more than money, as Georgia can and would match any offer Nick Saban makes.

Jim Leonard is in high demand after being rejected by Wisconsin for its head coaching opening. Whether Nick Saban was keeping his potential DC roster in his head or hidden under lock and key, Leonhard wouldn’t be a new name on the list.

Saban already has a coach with DC experience on Alabama’s staff. It’s analyst Todd Grantham. Grantham is considerable experience. During his long assistant coaching career, Grantham has served as DC at Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State and Florida.

It seems the prevailing sentiment among Alabama football fans is that if Grantham becomes the top candidate, Saban should never have let Golding go.

With Nick Saban, it’s always possible that his top pick is someone off the radar of fans. Connections and relationships are important with Saban, and he is not expected to look beyond his network of trusted associates.

Another name mentioned is the return of Karl Scott, but aside from one brief stint, Scott has never coached linebackers. Saban strongly wants his DC coach to be his inside coach.