Tuscaloosa, Alabama – College football powerhouse University of Alabama will soon be facing a monumental task: finding a replacement for their legendary head coach, Nick Saban, who is retiring. Saban, widely regarded as the greatest coach in the sport’s history, led Alabama to seven national titles during his illustrious career, including six with the Crimson Tide and one with LSU.
Saban’s departure leaves behind a massive legacy and a coaching tree that has spread throughout the sport. Among the potential candidates to fill his shoes are a couple of former protégés who learned under Saban’s tutelage.
One name garnering consideration is Oregon’s Dan Lanning. Lanning, a former graduate assistant under Saban, rapidly climbed the coaching ranks and played a vital role in Georgia’s national championship win as a defensive coordinator. Since taking over the reins in Eugene, Lanning has led the Ducks to a 22-5 record. Despite his success, it remains to be seen if Lanning is willing to leave behind a promising program in Oregon to assume the challenging task of succeeding Saban at Alabama.
Another potential candidate is Steve Sarkisian, the head coach at the University of Texas. Sarkisian, who had a brief and troubled stint at USC before resurrecting his career at Alabama as an offensive coordinator, has successfully transformed the Longhorns program. Under his guidance, Texas went 12-2 this season, including a victory over Alabama. However, it also remains uncertain if Sarkisian would be willing to leave his current position for the daunting task of following in Saban’s footsteps.
Washington’s Kalen DeBoer is another intriguing candidate. DeBoer has made tremendous strides in his two seasons with the Huskies, leading them to the national title game this year after taking over a struggling program. Known for his offensive expertise, DeBoer has garnered respect from the coaching world for his poise and ability to transform teams. Although he has never worked in the SEC, DeBoer’s recent hiring of the same agent as Saban and many SEC coaches could pave the way for negotiations and considerations.
Florida State’s Mike Norvell and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney round out the list of potential candidates. Norvell has done an exceptional job rebuilding the Seminoles program, while Swinney, a former Alabama player, has achieved immense success at Clemson. Nevertheless, it is unclear if either coach would be interested in taking on the momentous challenge of succeeding Saban at Alabama.
As Alabama begins the search for their next head coach, the program faces the daunting task of replacing a legendary figure. Saban’s departure marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in college football history.