Alabama Offensive Coordinator Candidates

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By: Mike Huesmann

Ryan Grubb has decided to spurn the Tide and his longtime boss, Kalen DeBoer, for the NFL and the Seattle Seahawks. This means that for the 4th time since 2021 Alabama will be hiring a new offensive coordinator, yes really. Now programs like that tend to turn over assistants quickly who get better jobs but that has only been the case with 1 of the 3, albeit that Tommy Rees wasn’t at fault for being out of a job. Considering that Kalen Deboer has shown an inclination to poach G5 head coaches and the enormity of the job, we could get some massive names on this list. It is entirely possible that Kalen DeBoer now calls the plays but an OC/QB coach will need to be hired. This list will be a combination of realistic candidates and a dream list for DeBoer, which might be one in the same in some cases. Note- an internal promotion of WR coach JaMarcus Shephard or TE coach Nick Sheridan is on the table but since he’s already on the staff I’m only looking at external candidates.

Kirby Moore

Missouri, Offensive Coordinator

Moore served with and under DeBoer at Fresno State so we know they have a history together. He stayed as OC at Fresno in 2022 under jeff Tedford when DeBoer went to Washington before being hired away by Eli Drinkwitz at Mizzou for the 2023 season. This season saw one of the best in Tiger history. Brady Cooke, Cody Schrader, and Luther Burden were all electric in leading them to an 11-2 record and Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State. He checks a lot of boxes and matches many of DeBoer’s previous hires.

Alex Golesh

South Florida, Head Coach

As I said before, DeBoer has hired G5 head coaches already this offseason and we could see another hot one. With the gap widening in talent and resources could Alex Golesh leave USF after 1 year as head coach? I don’t know but he’d certainly be a guy I would target. He was a fantastic OC for Josh Heupel at Tennessee in 2022 and did great things with Hendon Hooker there. Prior to Tennessee he had stops at Illinois, Iowa State, UCF, Toledo, Oklahoma State, and Ohio State. That’s a pretty impressive resume for a coach under 40 years old. Golesh took over an anemic USF program and took them to a bowl win in his first year. He seems destined to be a P4 head coach. The question is, what does he see as his best path to that level?

Matt Canada

Former Offensive Coordinator

Canada has his detractors and things certainly ended poorly with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they also made the playoffs all but one year and never had a losing record, despite him being their when they moved on from a future Hall of Fame QB. His past stops in college are very impressive with OC stops at LSU, Maryland, NC State, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and Indiana. He brings with him a knowledge of QB’s, which is highly desirable in this hire, and the ability to adapt and play multiple offensive systems. When he left the college game for the NFL, his star was on the rise, a venture back to those ranks might see it rise again.

G.J. Kinne

Head Coach, Texas State

Another rising G5 head coach who just finished his first year at a school, G.J. Kinne came to Texas State from FCS Incarnate Word where he was also only at for a single season. This may be a jump he doesn’t have interest in, being a coordinator again, but if Bama interests him and I’m DeBoer, I consider it. He was 12-2 last year, where their season ended in the FCS semifinals. His Bobcat team finished 8-5 with a bowl win and lit up the scoreboard in wins over Baylor, among others along the way. He had TJ Finley playing lights out and Ishmail Mahdi running very hard at the end of the year. Kinne also understands the portal as well as anyone as evidenced by the roster overhaul he performed.

Alex Atkins

Florida State, Offensive Coordinator

Pulling double duty as OC and offensive line coach this year really showcased why Atkins has consistently been mentioned for head coaching positions, though he hasn’t gotten one yet. Under Mike Norvell, his offense has prioritized running the ball and moving the chains. He rolls in backs and tight ends. With the Tide not hiring an OL coach yet he could catch the eye of DeBoer and would be a strong coup hiring him away from another playoff contender. If Atkins wants to leave the ACC for pastures anew and a bigger paycheck, this could be a great move.