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Alabama Football: 5 Possible OC Replacements for Lane Kiffin
With the Alabama football program on the verge of yet another national title, the last thing Nick Saban wants to do is conduct a search for a new offensive coordinator, so we thought we’d help.
It was widely believed that Lane Kiffin would be leaving Alabama, whether to take a head coach position somewhere or to join his old pal Ed Orgeron at LSU, but I’m not sure anyone saw Kiffin taking the job at Florida Atlantic.
The 41-year-old Kiffin has been the Alabama offensive coordinator for the last three seasons. Prior to that, he had a largely unsuccesful stint as the USC head coach from 2010-2013, and then one completely forgettable (unless you’re a Vols fan) season as head coach at Tennessee.
Lots of years with the big boys. Best of luck there in the almost-FCS Conference-USA, Lane.
Kiffin is scheduled to remain on the Bama coaching staff through the postseason, so Saban will have a little time and won’t have to worry about play-calling (so we think) as Alabama prepares for meeting Washington and eventually either Ohio State or Clemson.
But once another national title is secured in T-Town, another offensive mind will have to be secured for the upcoming recruiting season.
There are already a lot of names flying around, and a few are solid choices. Here are five that make sense and who you could see standing on the sideline being chewed out by Saban next season.
Jan 12, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; General view of an Alabama Crimson Tide helmet prior to a press conference at JW Marriott Camelback Inn. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Niblett: Head Coach, Hoover High School, Hoover, Al.
While this name is purely a longshot, you have to at least consider the possibility that defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt will throw Niblett’s name into the hat for Saban to consider.
Niblett has been head coach at Hoover High School since 2008, and played for the Tide under Gene Stallings from 1993-95. During the past six seasons at Hoover, Niblett’s Bucs have gone 84-6 overall, playing in the Alabama Super Six Championship game each season, winning three of them.
He’s known for his offensive prowess and Pruitt himself was plucked from the high school coaching ranks while at Hoover, so the transition wouldn’t be unheard of.
Still, when you’re talking about a perennial national championship team, it’s hard to imagine a high school coach coming on board and keeping things at that high of a level.
Sep 24, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive analyst Steve Sarkisian prior to the game against Kent State Golden Flashes at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Steve Sarkisian: Offensive Assistant (Consultant), Alabama
The first name which will leap to mind for many will be that of Steve Sarkisian, who Saban brought about this season as an offensive consultant (or maybe Kiffin-buffer is the more correct term).
While Sarkisian does have an extensive resume full of FBS experience at major schools, very little of that resume is filled with shining examples of winning games and championships. His most recent job, prior to Alabama, was a disastrous term as head coach at USC that ended in a rather unpleasant manner.
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Sark had five mediocre seasons as Washington’s head coach, going 34-29 overall, and was an assistant at USC in a few different stops. There has never been any solid evidence he can do a fantastic job as a coach in any capacity.
It might be the easiest transition to move Sarkisian into the offensive coordinator slot, but our money is on Saban conducing a more thorough search and finding the right guy rather than the path of least resistance.
Nov 21, 2015; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins interim head coach Mike Locksley stands on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Locksley: Offensive Analyst, Alabama
One of several in-house names to consider, Mike Locksley is another consultant/analyst type who has a legitimate shot at the offensive coordinator gig.
Locksley is a journeyman coach, having stops at eight different college programs and one noted high school (Navy Prep) on his resume. Prior to joining Saban’s staff in 2016, he was an offensive coach and then interim head coach at Maryland (his second cup of coffee with the Terps).
A coach of many talents, Locksley has coached tight ends, running backs, quarterbacks and even a little defense throughout the course of his career. But like Steve Sarkisian, there’s nothing on Locksley’s resume which screams Alabama material.
There will be an interview, and Locksley will undoubtedly do well. Some familiarity with the offense will help a lot, and he is known as a top recruiter. The Tide could do much worse.
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator / quarterback coach Lincoln Riley in the second half of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Lincoln Riley: Offensive Coordinator, Oklahoma
If you don’t think Saban wouldn’t go and pilfer an offensive coordinator from the Big 12, you don’t know Saban. With all the offensive firepower in that conference, at least a few OCs are doing it right and Rley is one of those few.
It would also probably do Saban’s heart good to drive a stake through Bob Stoops’ by stealing one of his best weapons.
Riley is an exceptional offensive coach, and it’s actually surprising he didn’t land one of the more prominent head coach positions that were open. He’s been on Stoops’ staff since 2015, prior to that coaching some high scoring teams at East Carolina and Texas Tech.
It’s Riley’s coaching and game plan that were the primary reason that both Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Dede Westbrook ended up in New York as Heisman Trophy finalists this year.
It would take a lot of talking, and even more money to convince Riley to leave Norman, but what a get that would be for the Tide if it were to happen.
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receivers coach Billy Napier with wide receiver Daylon Charlot (4) against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Billy Napier: Wide Receivers Coach, Alabama
We now come to the most obvious name on this list, and the man who has been getting a lot of support for the job, Billy Napier.
For the past four seasons, Napier has been learning under Saban as the wide receivers coach to which he has been quite successful in producing a couple of the best wideouts in Alabama history – Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley,
Prior to coming to Tuscloosa, Napier coached for seven years at Clemson in the 2000s before joining the Crimson Tide’s staff as an offensive analyst for Alabama’s 2011 national championship season. He then returned to Alabama in 2013 after serving as quarterbacks coach at Colorado State for former Bama offensive coordinator, and now Florida head coach, Jim McElwain.
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Napier is the front-runner in the opinion of many, and given his body of work under Saban and his deep understanding of not only what Nick Saban wants but what this team needs, he seems like the most solid choice of the bunch.
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