Thursday night intel on Alabama’s search for a head football coach

Alabama’s search for a head coach to replace Nick Saban seems to be coming into focus.

Director of athletics Greg Byrne is expected to meet with some of the Crimson Tide’s candidates for the coaching vacancy, BamaOnLine has learned. Sources indicate that Byrne likely visited Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer today and plans to see Florida State head coach Mike Norvell tomorrow. DeBoer and Norvell are two of Alabama’s primary targets.

Sources also believe Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will be interviewed in Tuscaloosa, possibly on Saturday, after his first season of calling plays at Alabama. It does not, however, seem like Rees is a top candidate before the interview process begins.

Other coaches could receive interviews, too, but the search is believed to be nearing a close. As expected, Saban has been involved in the process since announcing his retirement.

Whoever is hired as Alabama’s next head coach will most likely try to retain some of the Tide’s current staff, especially those with strong recruiting ties. Travaris Robinson is a name that has often been brought up in speaking to sources, but he could also have other opportunities this offseason. The secondary coach’s contract with Alabama ends in February.

DeBoer is in his second season at Washington and led the Huskies to an undefeated regular season, a Pac-12 championship, a win over Texas in the Sugar Bowl semifinal and a College Football Playoff National Championship Game appearance. He has a buyout of $12 million should he end up being the choice to replace Saban as the coach of the Tide.

As for Norvell, he led his team to similar success this past year, as Florida State also posted a 13-0 record after winning the ACC Championship Game. But an injury to quarterback Jordan Travis kept the Seminoles out of the four-team playoff, and a depleted roster was no match for Georgia in the Orange Bowl. In Year 4 at FSU, Norvell’s buyout is $4 million.

Some of the coaches that were initially mentioned for the opening have since been eliminated from the running. One was Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, who was a graduate assistant at Alabama in 2025. He tweeted a video that announced he was staying in Eugene. On Thursday night, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, who was the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator from 2019-20, tweeted a graphic that read, “It’s a Great Day to be a Longhorn!”

Many believe Alabama’s search will conclude within 72 hours of Saban’s announcement that he was retiring on Wednesday. Stay tuned to BOL for more on the Tide’s interview process.

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