UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach
Bobby Williams, in his 10th season in Tuscaloosa, and his second as the special assistant to the head coach. He spent eight years in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide's tight ends coach and special teams coordinator. A veteran coach with both college and NFL experience, Williams is a member of head coach Nick Saban's coaching staff for the fourth time in his career, also working together at Michigan State, LSU and with the Miami Dolphins.
Job Titles:
- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks / 205 - 348 - 3600 205 - 348 - 3600
Brian Daboll was tapped to coordinate the Alabama offense in February 2017 by head coach Nick Saban after spending 17 years coaching in the NFL, including four years as an offensive coordinator.
Daboll inherited an offense that returned six starters in 2017 after finishing 16th nationally in scoring at 38.8 points per game and averaged 455.3 yards per game last season.
Both of those numbers have increased in 2017 with the Crimson Tide ranking 12th nationally in scoring (39.1 ppg) and third in the SEC in yards with 465.4 per game. Starting quarterback Jalen Hurts has thrown for 1,940 yards and 15th touchdowns while rushing for 768 yards and eight scores. Junior Damien Harris leads the rushing attack with 906 yards and 11 scores while Calvin Ridley, also a junior, anchored the wide receiving corps with 55 catches for 896 yards and three touchdowns. The Alabama rushing attack is 10th nationally with 265.4 yards per game. The Crimson Tide's offensive line is also a finalist for the Joe Moore Award.
Daboll was also a semifinalist for the Frank Broyles Award, which goes annually to the nation's top assistant coach.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Assistant Athletics Director, Football
- Associate Head Coach / Running Backs
- Associate Head Coach / Running Backs / Special Teams
Burton Burns is in his 11th season with the Alabama Crimson Tide football program in 2017 as associate head coach and running backs coach. The New Orleans native is regarded as one of the best assistant coaches in college football and was named the Football Scoop Running Backs Coach of the Year following the 2008 season. Burns was also named one of the nation's top recruiters in all of college sports in 2011 by ESPN The Magazine.
Over 20 seasons as a college assistant, Burns has produced versatile running backs who have been effective in every phase of the game. His players have proven to be equally effective on the ground and in the passing game. Few in college football can say they have coached a Heisman Trophy finalist, but Burns can claim a trio dating back to the 2009 season, including the 2009 recipient Mark Ingram, 2011 finalist Trent Richardson and 2015 winner Derrick Henry.
Burns developed a trio of talented backs in 2016 with Damien Harris leads the team with 983 yards while averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Sophomore Bo Scarbrough came on strong at the end of the season to finish with 954 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns on 125 carries. True freshman Josh Jacobs has 551 yards and four scores. He also spent the 2016 season as the Tide's special teams coordinator, helping Eddie Jackson post one of the highest punt return averages in school history while punter JK Scott ranked fourth nationally in punting at 47.2 yards per kick.
In 2015, Henry stepped into the starting role and flourished with a school- and SEC-record 2,219 yards on 395 carries and 28 rushing touchdowns. His 2,219 yards were the fifth-most in a single season in college football history. He also became just the third back in league history to record four 200-yard rushing games, while setting the Alabama record for 100-yard rushing games with 10. Henry also became the second Tide player to win the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards and the first Tide player to capture the Walter Camp Player of the Year.
Burns had a pair of running backs on the cusp of 1,000 rushing yards in 2014 with Henry leading the team with 990 yards while junior T.J. Yeldon finished with 979 yards on the ground. The pair both finished with 11 rushing touchdowns apiece, while Jalston Fowler excelled in his role at fullback, becoming the top fullback prospect in the 2015 NFL Draft. The Tide averaged 206.6 rushing yards per game in 2014.
He turned in another masterful coaching job in 2013 with Yeldon cracking the 1,000-yard barrier as the back accumulated 1,235 yards and 14 touchdowns while backup sophomore Kenyan Drake accounted for 694 yards and eight scores, and true freshman Derrick Henry produced 382 yards on just 35 carries. Alabama ranked 25th nationally and fourth in the SEC in rushing offense, averaging 205.6 yards per game. Eddie Lacy, a second-round draft pick by Green Bay in 2013, earned NFL Rookie of the Year honors, rushing for 1,178 yards and 11 scores.
Job Titles:
- Special Teams Coordinator / Outside Linebackers
Coleman Hutzler begins his second season on the Alabama coaching staff after head coach Nick Saban hired him in January of 2022 to coordinate special teams and coach Alabama's outside linebackers.
In his first season with the Crimson Tide, Hutzler helped the Crimson Tide rank 16th nationally in sacks per game (2.9) and 22nd in tackles for loss per game (6.9). Will Anderson Jr. finished with 17 tackles for loss and 10 sacks while making 51 tackles and registering 12 quarterback hurries to go with Dallas Turner's eight TFLs and four sacks.
Anderson Jr. swept the national awards, winning the Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik Awards as the National Defensive Player of the Year along with capturing the Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy.
The Tide's special teams saw a marked improvement as well, with Alabama ranking third nationally in punt returns (16.73 ypr). Will Reichard set the career record for points while making 22-of-26 field goals and all 64 extra points. Punter James Burnip also found his stride, averaging 42.2 yards per punt with only two touchbacks, 20 fair catches and 13 punts downed inside the 20 yard line.
Job Titles:
- Director of Sports Performance
- Title / Director of Sports Performance
Regarded among the best in the field, David Ballou joined the Alabama program in March of 2020 as the Director of Sports Performance after two years at Indiana University where he was the Director of Athletic Performance.
Ballou brings a scientific approach to the Crimson Tide's tradition of hard work and dedication that is put towards getting faster and stronger. Working alongside Dr. Matt Rhea, the Tide's director of sports science, Ballou implements Coach Saban's offseason program, which includes the well-known "Fourth-Quarter Program."
Ballou and his entire strength and conditioning staff work in unison with athletic training and performance nutrition to create the optimal environment for training and development. At Alabama, Ballou oversees the Crimson Tide's 37,000-square-foot weight room that was updated in the spring of 2020 with 20 Elite Form Power Trackers and three 1080 Sprint devices from 1080 Motion.
The $9-million Alabama weight room opened in 2013 and features 21,000-square feet on the first level and 16,000-square feet on the second floor. The ground level is comprised of a weight room that is highlighted by 24 combination racks that feature platforms built into the ground for a level surface that provides a safer training environment. The weight room also has a state-of-the-art performance nutrition center to fuel Alabama student-athletes, plus physicians' offices and strength and conditioning offices.
Ballou has been a certified strength and conditioning specialist since 2001. He is married to the former Leah Horn, a Bloomington, Ind., native who was a pole vaulter and graduate at Indiana. The couple has two daughters, Mallory and Aubrey.
Derrick Ansley is in his second season on Nick Saban's Crimson Tide coaching staff as the defensive backs coach after rejoining the staff on Feb. 10, 2016.
He had spent the previous four seasons as a secondary coach at Tennessee (2012) and Kentucky (2013-15) after a two-year stint as a graduate assistant for Alabama during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
The Crimson Tide are first nationally in scoring defense (11.5 ppg) in 2017 while ranking second in total defense (257.8 ypg) and second in pass efficiency defense (98.90). Ansley's secondary was led by Bednarik and Thorpe Award winner Minkah Fitzpatrick along with All-SEC performers Ronnie Harrison (first team safety) and Levi Wallace (second team corner).
Ansley inherited a talented group in the Alabama secondary for 2016. They helped lead the nation's top-ranked scoring defense (13.0 ppg) and No. 2 total defense (261.8 ypg). His unit was ninth nationally and second in the SEC in pass efficiency defense and 24th in passing yards allowed.
Senior safety Eddie Jackson led the way until being injured in the eighth game of the season. His play in those games still earned him second team All-SEC recognition. Fitzpatrick, who started all 15 games in 2016, earned first team All-SEC honors and consensus All-America accolades after moving to safety from corner to replace Jackson. He finished with 56 tackles, a team-high six interceptions and seven pass breakups while taking two interceptions back for touchdowns to give him the Alabama record with four in on only two seasons. Corner Marlon Humphrey earned first team All-America honors from the FWAA after finishing with 33 tackles and two interceptions. Ronnie Harrison manned the free safety spot and was second on the team in tackles with 70, while Anthony Averett turned in a strong season at the other corner.
Ansley spent three seasons at the University of Kentucky as the cornerbacks coach (2013-14), secondary coach (2015) and was promoted to co-defensive coordinator for the 2016 season before accepting the position with the Crimson Tide.
Ansley, who served as a defensive graduate assistant at Alabama during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, helped the UK defense record a school-record six defensive touchdowns while creating 23 turnovers that ranked second in the SEC in 2015.
He joined the Wildcats' staff after spending the 2012 season as the defensive backs coach at Tennessee, where he helped the Volunteers improve their national ranking in interceptions by 30 places. He went to UT in February of 2012 after accepting the position of defensive backs coach at Central Florida in December of 2011.
Ansley's two seasons as a graduate assistant in Tuscaloosa saw Alabama produce a 22-4 record and the 2011 BCS National Championship. The Crimson Tide went 10-3 in his first season at the Capstone, punctuated by a win over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl. The Tide went 12-1 to claim the national championship in 2011, featuring the nation's best defense, which ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring defense, total defense, pass defense and pass efficiency defense. He worked with All-Americans Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick and DeQuan Menzie during his time at Alabama.
He spent five seasons coaching at NCAA Division III Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., before taking the graduate assistant position at Alabama. During his tenure with the Hawks, Ansley helped guide the team to its first winning season and the school's first playoff appearance. Huntingdon produced a winning record in four of the five seasons he was on staff with two eight-win campaigns.
The year before Ansley got to Huntingdon, the team had 12 interceptions and 23 pass breakups. Those numbers improved to 15 interceptions and 44 pass breakups in year one. In Ansley's final season with Huntington, the Hawks had 22 interceptions and an impressive 56 pass breakups.
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Director for Football
- Associate Athletics Director, Football
Ed Marynowitz returned to The University of Alabama as the Crimson Tide's associate athletics director for football in June of 2016.
In his new role, Marynowitz will work with the Crimson Tide's player personnel department and football operations while assisting with athletic administration.
Marynowitz served as the Philadelphia Eagles' vice president of player personnel in 2015. In that role he oversaw the Eagles player personnel department, ran their pro and college scouting office and handled the preparation for the NFL Draft and free agency. Marynowitz joined Philadelphia in 2012 as the team's assistant director of pro scouting and was later elevated to assistant director of player personnel.
Marynowitz originally joined the Alabama staff in December of 2008 as the director of player personnel. During his tenure with the Crimson Tide, Marynowitz was instrumental in helping construct three No. 1 recruiting classes with all four classes ranking in the top five nationally. The recruiting classes during his tenure produced nine players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and Alabama posted a 36-4 record during his three seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletics Director, Football Chief Operating Officer
- Director, Football Operations
Eric Wolford joined Alabama head coach Nick Saban's staff in January of 2022 to coach the Crimson Tide's offensive line and returns for his second year on staff in 2023.
Wolford's efforts across the Alabama offensive front were quickly evident as the Alabama offensive line opened holes for an additional 45.5 rushing yards per game and surrendered 20 fewer sacks than the season prior. Senior guard Emil Ekiyor Jr. earned first team All-SEC recognition while both Javion Cohen and Tyler Steen garnered second-team accolades. Tyler Booker was named a Freshman All-America honoree from 247Sports as well as SEC All-Freshman plaudits.
Wolford spent the 2021 season at Kentucky rebuilding a Wildcats' offensive front that lost three starters into a unit that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award. The Wildcats averaged 5.23 yards per carry last year while 53.1 percent of their rush attempts went for four yards or more to lead the nation.
A highly regarded recruiter, he arrived in Tuscaloosa with 26 years of coaching experience, including two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 and 2016. Prior to Kentucky, Wolford spend four seasons on Will Muschamp's staff at South Carolina.
Freddie Roach was named the defensive line coach at his alma mater by Alabama head coach Nick Saban in February of 2020. He returned to Tuscaloosa after spending the previous three seasons at Ole Miss in the same role and is beginning his fourth season tutoring the Crimson Tide's defensive front.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Head Coach of Offense / Wide Receivers
Job Titles:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Defensive Coordinator and Inside Linebackers
Jeremy Pruitt began his second stint on the Alabama coaching staff in 2016 as the Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator and returns for his second year in the position. Pruitt, a former defensive back with the Tide, also coaches the inside linebackers.
In his first season back in 2016, Pruitt coordinated a defense that led the nation in scoring defense (13.0 ppg) and rushing defense (63.9 ypg), while ranking second in total defense by two yards (261.8 ypg) and ranked ninth in pass efficiency defense (106.47). The Tide also led the nation in defensive touchdowns with 11. He tutored senior inside linebacker Reuben Foster to consensus first team All-America honors and the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's top linebacker, while finishing with 115 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and five sacks. Junior Shaun Dion Hamilton also became a stalwart on the inside for the Tide in 2016, finishing with 64 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two interceptions before suffering a knee injury against Florida.
Pruitt joined the Alabama staff after spending two seasons as defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Georgia (2014-15). Pruitt's 2015 Georgia defense ranked seventh nationally in total defense, allowing 305.9 yards per game, led the nation in passing yards allowed per game (156.5 ypg), ranked third nationally in red zone defense (.676) and in first down defense (189), seventh nationally in pass efficiency defense (104.99) and eighth in scoring defense (16.9 ppg). In 2014, Pruitt's Georgia defense ranked 17th nationally in total defense (337.2 ypg), fourth in turnover margin (+1.23) and fifth in passing yards allowed (170.4 ypg).
Pruitt served as both defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Florida State in 2013 as part of a staff that led the Seminoles to an undefeated season and the 2013 national championship. That Seminole defense ended the season leading the nation in scoring defense (12.1 ppg), and ranking second in team passing efficiency defense (93.77), third in total defense (281.4 ypg), and 18th in rushing defense (124.8 ypg).
Pruitt previously served on the Crimson Tide staff for six seasons (2007-12), coaching the Tide defensive backs from 2010-12. In that role, Pruitt mentored several notable Crimson Tide stars including safety Mark Barron and cornerbacks Dre Kirkpatrick, DeQuan Menzie and Dee Milliner. Pruitt originally joined the Alabama staff as Director of Player Development in 2007.
His 2012 Tide secondary was led by Milliner, a first team All-American and top-10 pick in in the 2013 NFL Draft. Alabama ranked seventh nationally in pass efficiency defense while leading the nation in scoring and total defense en route to winning the SEC and national championships. Milliner led all defensive backs in tackles with 54 while recording two interceptions and breaking up 20 passes. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, another future first-round pick, led the team with five interceptions while Vinnie Sunseri added 54 tackles and Robert Lester intercepted four passes.
The 2011 Alabama secondary was one of the best in the nation, boasting a pair of AFCA first team All-Americans in Barron, who was also a finalist for the Thorpe Award, and Menzie. Kirkpatrick made it three first team All-Americans in the secondary when he and Barron received that honor from the FWAA. Milliner also made significant contributions at corner and led the team with three interceptions on the season. Robert Lester, who started alongside Barron at safety, collected 39 total tackles, a pair of interceptions, five passes defended, one forced fumble and a blocked kick after leading the team in picks the year prior.
The defensive backfield had a lot of new faces on the field in 2010 with the loss of starters Javier Arenas (CB), Kareem Jackson (CB) and Justin Woodall (S) following the 2009 national championship. Under the tutelage of Pruitt, the young group came together quickly and helped Alabama lead the SEC in total defense, scoring defense and pass efficiency defense.
The 2010 secondary was anchored by Barron, who was named a first team FWAA All-American. He led the Tide with 75 tackles in 12 games in 2010, missing the Capital One Bowl with a shoulder injury. Lester also had a significant impact at safety, earning second-team Walter Camp All-American honors and ranking second nationally with eight interceptions. At corner, Kirkpatrick was a second-team All-SEC pick, while Milliner was a Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC selection.
Pruitt joined the Alabama staff as director of player development in 2007 after a successful stint as an assistant coach at Hoover (Ala.) High School. At Hoover, he served for three seasons as defensive backs coach with the final two as the defensive coordinator. He tutored a defense that helped the Bucs reach the Class 6A State Championship in 2004, 2005 and 2006, winning titles in 2004 and 2005. Pruitt served as an assistant coach under his father, Dale Pruitt, at Fort Payne High School from 2001-03.
Pruitt began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at Alabama during the 1997 season, where he worked under defensive backs coach Curley Hallman. After one year on the UA staff, Pruitt joined his father's staff at Plainview High School as defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator in 1998 and 2000. He spent one season as defensive backs coach at the University of West Alabama, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1999.
During his collegiate career, Pruitt played at both Middle Tennessee and Alabama. He began his career at Middle Tennessee under legendary coach Boots Donnelly, where he was a two-year starter at safety and cornerback for the Blue Raiders.
After his sophomore season, Pruitt transferred to Alabama where he spent two seasons under Gene Stallings. As a junior, Pruitt saw time in nine games and recorded seven tackles. As a senior, Pruitt played in seven games as a backup defensive back and was a member of Alabama's 1996 SEC Western Division Championship team that beat Michigan, 17-13, in the Outback Bowl in Tampa.
A two-time all-state defensive back, Pruitt helped Plainview High School to a 48-8 record during his four-year career. He earned all-state honors in both 1991 and 1992.
Pruitt is married to the former Casey East and the couple has one son, Ridge. He also has a son, Jayse.
Job Titles:
- Director / Player Personnel
Jody Wright returned to the Alabama staff in January of 2015 as the director of player personnel. Wright was the Crimson Tide's graduate assistant in 2010 and offensive analyst in 2011-12.
Wright's responsibilities with the Crimson Tide include the organization of all recruiting efforts. Alabama put together the No. 1 signing class in the country in February of 2015 according to three major recruiting services. He then followed it up with another top-ranked recruiting class in 2016 according to 247Sports, Rivals and Scout. Wright also works with compliance regarding initial eligibility and assists with coaching clinics, camps and other on-campus events.
Wright brings several years of SEC experience to Tuscaloosa. In addition to his three years at Alabama, he has also worked a graduate assistant and eventually the director of football operations at Mississippi State. Wright spent a total of five years in Starkville, where he also earned his master's degree in 2009.
Wright's previous two stops include a season at UAB in 2014 (assistant head coach/running backs/recruiting coordinator) and his alma mater, Jacksonville State, in 2013 (passing game/recruiting coordinator). In 2014, the Blazers rushed for 2,637 yards and 17 touchdowns for an average of 219.8 yards per game with five different running backs gaining at least 290 yards on the ground. Wright helped UAB (6-6) become bowl eligible for the first time since 2004.
The Gamecocks advanced to the third round of the FCS playoffs in 2013, finishing with a record of 11-4. JSU ranked second in the Ohio Valley Conference in total offense (442 yards per game) and scoring offense (35.2 ppg). He began his career as a student assistant at Jacksonville State in 2002. Wright helped JSU win the 2003 and 2004 Ohio Valley Conference championships.
Joe Pannunzio returned to the Alabama staff in 2017 as the Crimson Tide's special teams coordinator and tight ends coach after a four stint as the program's director of football operations.
Pannunzio inherits junior tight end Hale Hentges and sophomore Miller Forristall for the 2017 season giving the Crimson Tide proven talent and depth at the position. On special teams, he must replace veteran place-kicker Adam Griffith and four-year starting long snapper Cole Mazza, but he returns first team All-American punter JK Scott. Scott has averaged 46.3 yards on 189 punts over the last three seasons. Alabama also welcomes back returners Trevon Diggs and Xavian Marks to bolster the Tide's special teams.
Pannunzio, who brings over 30 years of coaching experience to Tuscaloosa, returns to the Alabama program after spending the past two seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles director of personnel operations. He served as the Crimson Tide's director of football operations for four seasons from 2011-14.
Prior to joining Alabama, Pannunzio was the tight ends coach/special teams coordinator at the University of Miami (Fla.) from 2006-10. During his tenure with the Hurricanes, Pannunzio tutored players such as Greg Olsen (1st round Chicago, 2007), Jimmy Graham (3rd round New Orleans, 2010), Dedrick Epps (7th round San Diego, 2010) and punter Matt Bosher (6th round Atlanta, 2011). Miami made four bowl appearances in his five years in Coral Gables.
Job Titles:
- Director of Football Operations
- Title / Director of Football Operations
Karl Dunbar joined head coach Nick Saban's Alabama coaching staff as the defensive line coach in May of 2016 after spending the previous 10 years in the National Football League and is completing his second year in 2017.
His 2017 defensive front helped the Crimson Tide rank first nationally in scoring defense (11.5 ppg) and fourth nationally against the rush (94.1 ypg). Da'Ron Payne and Raekwon Davis earned first team All-SEC accolades while Da'Shawn Hand was a second team selection.
Dunbar continued the development of one of the best defensive fronts in the nation in 2016. Led by senior defensive end Jonathan Allen, the Crimson Tide was tops the nation in rushing defense (63.9 ypg) and was fourth in sacks (3.60 pg). He also helped Allen earn a multitude of national honors, receiving the Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award as the nation's Defensive Player of the Year, the Ted Hendricks Award, which goes the top defensive end. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year finished with 69 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss (-94 yards), a team-high 15 quarterback hurries and three fumble returns - two for touchdowns - for 115 yards.
Job Titles:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach
Kevin Steele returned to Alabama in February of 2023 for his third stint on head coach Nick Saban's staff and his second as defensive coordinator. He joined the Crimson Tide after serving as the defensive coordinator at Miami in 2022.
Steele will take over an Alabama defense ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense (18.2 ppg), sixth in pass efficiency defense (108.0) and 13th in total defense (318.2 ypg). The Crimson Tide return six starters but must replace Will Anderson Jr., Jordan Battle, Brian Branch and Henry To'oTo'o among others.
A previous finalist for the Broyles Award honoring the nation's top assistant coach, Steele owns 39 years of coaching experience, including 13 years in the SEC and 10 as a defensive coordinator.
During his five-season tenure as defensive coordinator at Auburn (2016-2020), Steele's units ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense four times while producing 14 NFL Draft picks and multiple first-rounders.
Steele served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for LSU in 2015, going to Baton Rouge from Alabama, where he spent the 2014 season coaching the Crimson Tide linebackers and was a special assistant to the head coach. He helped Trey DePriest earn All-America honors as the UA defense ranked sixth nationally in total defense. In 2013, he served as Alabama's director of player personnel.
Steele was the defensive coordinator at Clemson for three years from 2009-11. While at Clemson, the Tigers won the 2011 ACC title, their first since 1991. Steele's 2010 Clemson defense led the ACC and ranked No. 13 nationally in points allowed, surrendering 18.8 points per game.
Steele joined Florida State after serving as the head coach at Baylor from 1999-2002. Prior to overseeing the Big 12 program, Steele coached linebackers for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL from 1995-98. Under head coach Dom Capers, the Panthers reached the NFC Championship game in just their second season of existence
Job Titles:
- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
Job Titles:
- Assistant Head Coach / Tackles and Tight Ends / Recruiting Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Coach
- Co - Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers
- Offensive Coordinator
Mike Locksley joined Nick Saban's staff at The University of Alabama in January of 2017 as the Crimson Tide's co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
Locksley spent the 2016 season on the Crimson Tide's staff as an offensive analyst. He previously served as the interim head coach at the University of Maryland for the final six games of the 2015 season. Prior to that he served as the Terrapins offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2012-15. Locksley also served as the head coach at the University of New Mexico from 2009-11.
He will inherit a talented group in 2017 with the return of junior Calvin Ridley, who boasts 161 catches and 1,814 receiving yards in his first two seasons. The Crimson Tide also welcome back Cam Sims and Trevon Diggs along with Robert Foster and Derek Kief.
Locksley is also known for strong recruiting skills. He was listed as a top-25 recruiter in the nation three different times (2003, 2005, 2006) and was a finalist for 2007 recruiter of the year by Rivals.com. He also engineered top-10 recruiting classes during each of his two seasons (2003-04) as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Florida.
During his time as Maryland's offensive coordinator, the Terrapins produced balanced and effective results. Locksley's attack was orchestrated by quarterback C.J. Brown, who became Maryland's all-time leader in touchdowns responsible for with 58 after totaling 13 passing touchdowns and eight rushing touchdowns in 2014. He successfully utilized the talent on the outside with wide receiver Stefon Diggs hauling in 62 passes for 792 yards and five touchdowns and earning second team All-Big Ten honors.
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Title / Head Coach
Joe Cox was hired in February of 2022 by Alabama head coach Nick Saban to coach tight ends for the Crimson Tide and begins his second season at the Capstone in 2023.
Holmon Wiggins is in his fifth season at Alabama on head coach Nick Saban's staff as the Crimson Tide's wide receivers coach and third as the assistant head coach of offense.
His first four seasons in Tuscaloosa have produced a Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award winner, two Biletnikoff finalists and three first team All-Americans. He has developed five first round NFL Draft picks, including Jaylen Waddle (No. 6 overall), DeVonta Smith (No. 10), Henry Ruggs III (No. 12), Jameson Williams (No. 12) and Jerry Jeudy (No. 15).
Wiggins was tasked with a nearly complete overhaul of the Crimson Tide receiver corps in 2022. One of the lone holdovers, Ja'Corey Brooks, turned in a solid year with 39 receptions for 674 yards and a team-best eight touchdowns. Transfer Jermaine Burton hauled in a wide receiver-high 40 catches for 677 yards and seven scores. Freshmen Kobe Prentice, Isaiah Bond and Kendrick Law all produced solid rookie campaigns and are poised for breakout years in 2023.
Bala, a native of Oceanside, Calif., joins the Crimson Tide after one season at Liberty where he served as a defensive analyst in 2022 prior to being hired as the Flames linebackers coach for 2023.
During his season at Liberty, Bala helped coach a defense that finished first nationally in tackles for loss per game (9.3) and No. 3 in sacks per game (3.46). The Flames more than doubled their turnovers gained in 2022 from the previous season, ranking 11th nationally in turnovers gained (24) and 18th in passes intercepted
Bala has 15 years of coaching experience with stops at the Oakland Raiders, Southern Utah, Ottawa University of Arizona, Palomar College and Snow Junior College. He has coordinated defenses at both Southern Utah and Palomar College while coaching linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties during his career.
Over the course of his 18-year career in coaching, Gillespie has produced 13 NFL running backs, including 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year Alvin Kamara. He will add one more to that list with Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs slated to hear his name called in the 2023 NFL Draft. Including Kamara, Gillespie mentored three NFL backs at Tennessee, three at Oklahoma State and two each at South Carolina and West Virginia.
Robert Gillespie joined Alabama head coach Nick Saban's staff in January of 2021 to coach the Crimson Tide's running backs.
Job Titles:
- Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Head Strength and Conditioning Coach ( Football )
The booming voice you hear leading a pre-practice stretch or encouraging a Crimson Tide player to finish a workout session strong is that of Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning Scott Cochran. The high-energy coach, who is a two-time national strength coach of the year, joined the Alabama staff in 2007 after spending three seasons with the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA as an assistant strength coach. Cochran has been on Nick Saban's staff for all five national titles, as he served as an assistant at LSU in 2003.
Cochran, in his 10th year at Alabama, is nationally regarded as one of the best in the area of strength and conditioning - and the performances of Alabama's players on the field prove that to be true. He received one of the highest honors in his field when he was named the 2011 Samson Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year, as featured in American Football Quarterly. He earlier was named the Samson Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year following the 2008 season.
Prior to the start of spring drills, Cochran implements Coach Saban's offseason workout plan, which includes the well-known "Fourth Quarter Program" - a very important step in helping Alabama players develop physically and prepare for the upcoming practices.
It is not a coincidence that through improvements off the field in strength and conditioning, Alabama has become known as one of the most physically dominant teams in the country. The main goal of the program is to win the fourth quarter and wear down the opponent as the game goes on. On the way to the 2009 national championship, Alabama did just that as they won the fourth quarter by an astounding scoring margin of 121-32. The Tide continued the trend of finishing in 2011, as it again dominated the fourth quarter en route to the program's second national championship in three years with a 111-18 fourth-quarter scoring margin.
Job Titles:
- Special Assistant to Head Coach
Todd Watson is in his first year as a special assistant to head coach Nick Saban.
Job Titles:
- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
Tommy Rees joined Nick Saban's staff at The University of Alabama in February of 2023 to serve as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.