Nick Saban puts together high caliber staff right before Signing Day
Following the 2018 season, Alabama head football coach Nick Saban has hired seven new assistant coaches just one week before National Signing Day. On Sunday, January 27 reports surfaced that Mississippi State’s defensive line coach Brian Baker will join Alabama’s staff which puts the finishing touches on a very busy coaching carousel for Alabama in the month of January. Today, we’ll review each assistant coach who has been hired and give our take on where the new assistant could excel or fail.
Steve Sarkisian
Projected as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach
Backstory: Sarkisian coached the quarterbacks for the Oakland Raiders in 2004, then coached the quarterbacks at USC before becoming the head coach for the Trojans from 2014-15. Sarkisian was then hired as an offensive analyst at Alabama in 2016 and became the offensive coordinator for one game after Lane Kiffin was fired. Sarkisian coached Alabama’s offense during the 2017 national championship, which Alabama lost 35-31. Sarkisian then took the offensive coordinator position with the Atlanta Falcons from 2017-2018 before being hired back at Alabama.
Where Sarkisian could excel: Continuing to develop Tua Tagovailoa. This is Tagovailoa’s third quarterback coach in as many seasons. Sarkisian also will get to develop Taulia Tagovailoa and Paul Tyson who enter as just freshmen. Sarkisian could also excel at Alabama by implementing more of a balanced offensive attack utilizing running backs Najee Harris and Brian Robinson to knock off some game clock, and also improve on Alabama’s red-zone efficiency.
Where Sarkisian could fail: Hard to see Sarkisian failing in a quarterback room with so much talent, but where he could fail is to try to over-manage an offense that returns the most firepower in college football. If Sarkisian cannot find a good blend of an air attack and a power ground game, Sarkisian will be out next January.
Kyle Flood
Projected as Offensive Line Coach
Backstory: Coached Rutgers’ offensive line from 2005-06, then became the assistant head coach and the offensive line coach at Rutgers from 2009-11, before becoming the head coach at Rutgers from 2012-15. Flood coached with the Atlanta Falcons as their assistant offensive coach from 2017-18, before landing in Tuscaloosa.
Where Flood could excel: While the Alabama offense returns a ton of talent, Alabama has to replace its starting left tackle Jonah Williams and starting center Ross Pierschbacher who both left Alabama to head for the NFL Draft. Flood will have to help a player like Alex Leatherwood grow closer to his potential. Basically, he could turn Leatherwood into a future NFL starter, but it’s clear that Leatherwood needs a lot of improvement, especially replacing a player such as Jonah Williams. Flood will also have to coach up players like Chris Owens and Emil Ekiyor who will battle for the starting center position in 2019. If Flood can develop a two-year starter at the center position, that is a big plus for the Crimson Tide’s offensive line.
Where Flood could fail: By not molding future talent. With young tackles Tommy Brown, Amari Kight, and Evan Neal all in waiting, it’s monumental that Flood is able to transition those three into reliable bookends to the offensive line as they are the future of Alabama football.
Sal Sunseri
Projected as Outside Linebackers Coach
Backstory: Sunseri coached at Alabama under Nick Saban from 2009-11 where he was the assistant coach and linebackers coach. More recently, Sunseri was the defensive line coach at Florida in 2018, coached the linebackers for the Oakland Raiders from 2015-17, coached the defensive ends at Florida State from 2013-14, was the defensive coordinator at Tennessee in 2012, and as the defensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2002-08. Sunseri has a wealth of knowledge on the defensive side of the football, a very key addition to the 2019 staff.
Where Sunseri could excel: Alabama’s outside linebackers are a group that should be tops in the country during the 2019 season. Sunseri will have what appears a healthy Terrell Lewis and getting Lewis to the quarterback in 2019 is vital. The more Alabama gets its hands on the quarterback, the better. Sunseri can also help build the mindset of two very talented returning sophomores in Eyabai Anoma and Cameron Latu who should be ready for plenty of action this season. Overall, Sunseri was brought on to help ignite the Alabama defense, plain and simple.
Where Sunseri could fail: It will be interesting to see how Sunseri works with the players as opposed to Tosh Lupoi, many times over the players said they enjoyed the energy that Lupoi brought. If Sunseri cannot win the outside linebacker room, that would be a miss. Also, on the recruiting trail, Sunseri has some big shoes to fill as Lupoi was an excellent recruiter.
Charles Kelly
Projected Secondary Coach
Backstory: Kelly joins Alabama coming from Tennessee where he coached the safeties and special teams during the 2018 season. Before being in Knoxville, Tennessee Kelly was the defensive coordinator at Florida State from 2014-17. During his extensive coaching career, Kelly has coached the secondary at Jacksonville State, Nicholls State, and also at Georgia Tech. What is really impressive about Kelly’s resume is the fact that he’s coached nine first-round draft picks.
Where Kelly could excel: It is still unclear exactly what position Kelly will coach at Alabama as Alabama also has Karl Scott on the staff, but we are confident he’ll coach in the secondary this season. If Kelly can help replace a player like Deionte Thompson who left for the NFL Draft, he’ll have made an instant impact. Returning safeties include Jared Mayden, Shyheim Carter, Xavier McKinney, and Daniel Wright.
Where Kelly could fail: While Alabama returns plenty of talent to the secondary in 2019, Kelly will also be expected to bring in a five-star or four-star contributing talent to the room, so like each of these new coaches, they are judged not only on their X’s and O’s but also on their recruiting talent. Good news for Kelly is that he has Karl Scott helping him to recruit the position, and Scott has already proven as a solid go-getter.
Charles Huff
Projected Running Backs Coach
Backstory: Huff joins Alabama from Mississippi State where he was with the Bulldogs since late in the 2017 season. From 2014-17 Huff spent four seasons as the running backs coach at Penn State where he coached NFL first-round draft pick Saquon Barkley. Huff is just 35-years of age and is from Denton, Maryland. His youth should blend well with a very talented running back room, and it’s obvious why Nick Saban wanted another coach from the Maryland area.
Where Huff could excel: His knowledge of working with Barkley should translate very well to working with Najee Harris, Brian Robinson, Jerome Ford, and Trey Sanders. Help improve the room, implement some new ideas, keep the ball off the ground, you win. Also, continue to recruit the DMV area, which will now be a challenge as Mike Locksley the former offensive coordinator at Alabama turned Maryland head coach, says he wants to build a wall around. Huff could make an instant impact by helping to land Jerrion Ealy out of the class of 2019, a four-star running back out of Jackson, Mississippi.
Where Huff could fail: If Alabama loses its pipeline tie to the DMV area, that is a fertile ground of future big-time talent.
Holmon Wiggins
Projected receivers coach
Backstory: Wiggins replaces Josh Gattis as Alabama’s new receivers coach. Wiggins comes from Virginia Tech where he spent the last three seasons as their receivers coach before Virginia Tech he coached the receivers at Memphis.
Where Wiggins could excel: With Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle returning, Wiggins has to be a kid in a candy store. With that said, the goals for this group are extremely high, so keeping the standard and developing the three juniors in this room into NFL talent is key. Wiggins could also excel by developing a player like Tyrell Shavers and also Xavier Williams, two younger receivers that could make an impact in the future.
Where Wiggins could fail: By not recruiting well. With the receiver room getting older, Alabama is going to have to bring in some top-level talent at the position. You cannot fail to land big-time names here.
Brian Baker
Projected defensive line coach, possibly co-defensive coordinator
Backstory: The Baltimore, Maryland native has been coaching since 1984 where he was a student assistant at Maryland. From there, Baker has coached at the college level, but mostly in the NFL coaching the defensive line for the San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, and the Dallas Cowboys. Baker has coached at Mississippi State since 2016 and this past season’s Bulldog defense was very impressive. The Bulldogs led the nation in sacks with 39 and were ranked No. 1 in total defense.
Where Baker could excel: Everyone knows that Raekwon Davis did not hit his potential in 2018. With Baker’s knowledge of coaching at the highest level, he could make an instant impact lighting a fire under Davis to make him the most opposing defensive lineman in college football. Baker could also excel at Alabama by finding a defensive tackle to replace Quinnen Williams. He’ll be working with Phidarian Mathis, Christian Barmore, and freshman D.J. Dale.
Where Baker could fail: We’ve seen in the past that coaches that are accustomed to working in the NFL do not like the off-season grind of recruiting. Only time will tell in this area.
To Recap the coaching staff
Here are how things stand as of January 28.
Head Coach: Nick Saban
Offensive Coordinator: Steve Sarkisian (has not officially been announced by Saban)
Quarterbacks Coach: TBA (Likely Steve Sarkisian)
Running Backs: Charles Huff and Co-Offensive Coordinator (Not sure what will happen with Joe Pannunzio - Maybe off the field position
Receivers Coach: Holom Wiggins (Not sure what will happen with Butch Jones - Maybe off the field position )
Offensive Line Coach: Kyle Flood former Rutgers head coach
Tight Ends Coach/Special Teams: Jeff Banks
Defensive Coordinator/Insider Linebackers: Pete Golding (has not officially been announced by Saban)
Outside Linebackers: Sal Sunseri
Defensive Line Coach: Brian Baker (Possibly Co-Defensive Coordinator)
Secondary coach: Charles Kelly
Safeties Coach: Karl Scott
Following the 2018 season, Alabama head football coach Nick Saban has hired seven new assistant coaches just one week before National Signing Day. On Sunday, January 27 reports surfaced that Mississippi State’s defensive line coach Brian Baker will join Alabama’s staff which puts the finishing touches on a very busy coaching carousel for Alabama in the month of January. Today, we’ll review each assistant coach who has been hired and give our take on where the new assistant could excel or fail.
Steve Sarkisian
Projected as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach
Backstory: Sarkisian coached the quarterbacks for the Oakland Raiders in 2004, then coached the quarterbacks at USC before becoming the head coach for the Trojans from 2014-15. Sarkisian was then hired as an offensive analyst at Alabama in 2016 and became the offensive coordinator for one game after Lane Kiffin was fired. Sarkisian coached Alabama’s offense during the 2017 national championship, which Alabama lost 35-31. Sarkisian then took the offensive coordinator position with the Atlanta Falcons from 2017-2018 before being hired back at Alabama.
Where Sarkisian could excel: Continuing to develop Tua Tagovailoa. This is Tagovailoa’s third quarterback coach in as many seasons. Sarkisian also will get to develop Taulia Tagovailoa and Paul Tyson who enter as just freshmen. Sarkisian could also excel at Alabama by implementing more of a balanced offensive attack utilizing running backs Najee Harris and Brian Robinson to knock off some game clock, and also improve on Alabama’s red-zone efficiency.
Where Sarkisian could fail: Hard to see Sarkisian failing in a quarterback room with so much talent, but where he could fail is to try to over-manage an offense that returns the most firepower in college football. If Sarkisian cannot find a good blend of an air attack and a power ground game, Sarkisian will be out next January.
Kyle Flood
Projected as Offensive Line Coach
Backstory: Coached Rutgers’ offensive line from 2005-06, then became the assistant head coach and the offensive line coach at Rutgers from 2009-11, before becoming the head coach at Rutgers from 2012-15. Flood coached with the Atlanta Falcons as their assistant offensive coach from 2017-18, before landing in Tuscaloosa.
Where Flood could excel: While the Alabama offense returns a ton of talent, Alabama has to replace its starting left tackle Jonah Williams and starting center Ross Pierschbacher who both left Alabama to head for the NFL Draft. Flood will have to help a player like Alex Leatherwood grow closer to his potential. Basically, he could turn Leatherwood into a future NFL starter, but it’s clear that Leatherwood needs a lot of improvement, especially replacing a player such as Jonah Williams. Flood will also have to coach up players like Chris Owens and Emil Ekiyor who will battle for the starting center position in 2019. If Flood can develop a two-year starter at the center position, that is a big plus for the Crimson Tide’s offensive line.
Where Flood could fail: By not molding future talent. With young tackles Tommy Brown, Amari Kight, and Evan Neal all in waiting, it’s monumental that Flood is able to transition those three into reliable bookends to the offensive line as they are the future of Alabama football.
Sal Sunseri
Projected as Outside Linebackers Coach
Backstory: Sunseri coached at Alabama under Nick Saban from 2009-11 where he was the assistant coach and linebackers coach. More recently, Sunseri was the defensive line coach at Florida in 2018, coached the linebackers for the Oakland Raiders from 2015-17, coached the defensive ends at Florida State from 2013-14, was the defensive coordinator at Tennessee in 2012, and as the defensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2002-08. Sunseri has a wealth of knowledge on the defensive side of the football, a very key addition to the 2019 staff.
Where Sunseri could excel: Alabama’s outside linebackers are a group that should be tops in the country during the 2019 season. Sunseri will have what appears a healthy Terrell Lewis and getting Lewis to the quarterback in 2019 is vital. The more Alabama gets its hands on the quarterback, the better. Sunseri can also help build the mindset of two very talented returning sophomores in Eyabai Anoma and Cameron Latu who should be ready for plenty of action this season. Overall, Sunseri was brought on to help ignite the Alabama defense, plain and simple.
Where Sunseri could fail: It will be interesting to see how Sunseri works with the players as opposed to Tosh Lupoi, many times over the players said they enjoyed the energy that Lupoi brought. If Sunseri cannot win the outside linebacker room, that would be a miss. Also, on the recruiting trail, Sunseri has some big shoes to fill as Lupoi was an excellent recruiter.
Charles Kelly
Projected Secondary Coach
Backstory: Kelly joins Alabama coming from Tennessee where he coached the safeties and special teams during the 2018 season. Before being in Knoxville, Tennessee Kelly was the defensive coordinator at Florida State from 2014-17. During his extensive coaching career, Kelly has coached the secondary at Jacksonville State, Nicholls State, and also at Georgia Tech. What is really impressive about Kelly’s resume is the fact that he’s coached nine first-round draft picks.
Where Kelly could excel: It is still unclear exactly what position Kelly will coach at Alabama as Alabama also has Karl Scott on the staff, but we are confident he’ll coach in the secondary this season. If Kelly can help replace a player like Deionte Thompson who left for the NFL Draft, he’ll have made an instant impact. Returning safeties include Jared Mayden, Shyheim Carter, Xavier McKinney, and Daniel Wright.
Where Kelly could fail: While Alabama returns plenty of talent to the secondary in 2019, Kelly will also be expected to bring in a five-star or four-star contributing talent to the room, so like each of these new coaches, they are judged not only on their X’s and O’s but also on their recruiting talent. Good news for Kelly is that he has Karl Scott helping him to recruit the position, and Scott has already proven as a solid go-getter.
Charles Huff
Projected Running Backs Coach
Backstory: Huff joins Alabama from Mississippi State where he was with the Bulldogs since late in the 2017 season. From 2014-17 Huff spent four seasons as the running backs coach at Penn State where he coached NFL first-round draft pick Saquon Barkley. Huff is just 35-years of age and is from Denton, Maryland. His youth should blend well with a very talented running back room, and it’s obvious why Nick Saban wanted another coach from the Maryland area.
Where Huff could excel: His knowledge of working with Barkley should translate very well to working with Najee Harris, Brian Robinson, Jerome Ford, and Trey Sanders. Help improve the room, implement some new ideas, keep the ball off the ground, you win. Also, continue to recruit the DMV area, which will now be a challenge as Mike Locksley the former offensive coordinator at Alabama turned Maryland head coach, says he wants to build a wall around. Huff could make an instant impact by helping to land Jerrion Ealy out of the class of 2019, a four-star running back out of Jackson, Mississippi.
Where Huff could fail: If Alabama loses its pipeline tie to the DMV area, that is a fertile ground of future big-time talent.
Holmon Wiggins
Projected receivers coach
Backstory: Wiggins replaces Josh Gattis as Alabama’s new receivers coach. Wiggins comes from Virginia Tech where he spent the last three seasons as their receivers coach before Virginia Tech he coached the receivers at Memphis.
Where Wiggins could excel: With Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle returning, Wiggins has to be a kid in a candy store. With that said, the goals for this group are extremely high, so keeping the standard and developing the three juniors in this room into NFL talent is key. Wiggins could also excel by developing a player like Tyrell Shavers and also Xavier Williams, two younger receivers that could make an impact in the future.
Where Wiggins could fail: By not recruiting well. With the receiver room getting older, Alabama is going to have to bring in some top-level talent at the position. You cannot fail to land big-time names here.
Brian Baker
Projected defensive line coach, possibly co-defensive coordinator
Backstory: The Baltimore, Maryland native has been coaching since 1984 where he was a student assistant at Maryland. From there, Baker has coached at the college level, but mostly in the NFL coaching the defensive line for the San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, and the Dallas Cowboys. Baker has coached at Mississippi State since 2016 and this past season’s Bulldog defense was very impressive. The Bulldogs led the nation in sacks with 39 and were ranked No. 1 in total defense.
Where Baker could excel: Everyone knows that Raekwon Davis did not hit his potential in 2018. With Baker’s knowledge of coaching at the highest level, he could make an instant impact lighting a fire under Davis to make him the most opposing defensive lineman in college football. Baker could also excel at Alabama by finding a defensive tackle to replace Quinnen Williams. He’ll be working with Phidarian Mathis, Christian Barmore, and freshman D.J. Dale.
Where Baker could fail: We’ve seen in the past that coaches that are accustomed to working in the NFL do not like the off-season grind of recruiting. Only time will tell in this area.
To Recap the coaching staff
Here are how things stand as of January 28.
Head Coach: Nick Saban
Offensive Coordinator: Steve Sarkisian (has not officially been announced by Saban)
Quarterbacks Coach: TBA (Likely Steve Sarkisian)
Running Backs: Charles Huff and Co-Offensive Coordinator (Not sure what will happen with Joe Pannunzio - Maybe off the field position
Receivers Coach: Holom Wiggins (Not sure what will happen with Butch Jones - Maybe off the field position )
Offensive Line Coach: Kyle Flood former Rutgers head coach
Tight Ends Coach/Special Teams: Jeff Banks
Defensive Coordinator/Insider Linebackers: Pete Golding (has not officially been announced by Saban)
Outside Linebackers: Sal Sunseri
Defensive Line Coach: Brian Baker (Possibly Co-Defensive Coordinator)
Secondary coach: Charles Kelly
Safeties Coach: Karl Scott
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