Sports

Colin Cowherd Dishes On Bama Search But His Top Candidate’s Daughter Presents Motive To Stay Put

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Colin Cowherd of The Volume and his wife, Ann, pose for a photo.

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Sports host Colin Cowherd posted his thoughts on the current Alabama head coaching search after news broke that Nick Saban would be retiring.

He was hearing two names that he believed could end up walking the sidelines in Tuscaloosa next year: Dabo Swinney and Kalen DeBoer.

Both have been mentioned as potential replacements, though each could have reason to remain at their current school.

For Dabo Swinney, he’s a Crimson Tide alum that’s reached the pinnacle at Clemson. He could return home to continue Saban’s legacy, though it doesn’t seem everyone is on board with that possibility.

Shortly after the retirement news was announced, Alabama fans were heard chanting “Anyone but Dabo,” outside of Bryant-Denny Stadium. On top of potential fanbase blowback, there’s also a clause in Swinney’s contract that makes his buyout higher should he leave for Tuscaloosa as opposed to another program.

Colin Cowherd doesn’t care about either, saying Swinney should be Alabama’s first call.

“Dabo would be my choice if he were willing to leave Clemson,” he said on his The Volume podcast. “Not sure he would.”

Would Kalen DeBoer leave for Alabama?

The other option listed is the Washington head coach fresh off a national title appearance.

“Two sources confirmed to me late this afternoon, that Bama athletic director Greg Byrne, knowing that Nick Saban retiring was always a possibility, has had his eyes on Kalen DeBoer for some time,” Cowherd posted to X. “Byrne is highly respected.”

DeBoer is a proven winner at every level, but there are those that don’t think he’d make the move to the southeast.

One is his lack of ties to the SEC.

While his experience and success are noted, he’s only been affiliated with programs in the Midwest and on the West Coast. Most believe he’s more likely to make a run for the Seattle Seahawks opening than the Alabama gig.

The other reason is his daughter, Alexis, who recently signed to play softball for the Huskies.

Now, there’s nothing stopping Alexis from simply transferring to Alabama as the Tide boast a respectable softball program in their own right.

Still, his daughter’s UW enrollment combined with DeBoer’s unfamiliarity of the SEC landscape could sway his decision.

And who wants to be the guy replacing college football’s GOAT, anyway?!

The Crimson Tide have already swung and missed on one PAC 12 (or B1G?) candidate in Dan Lanning. Will DeBoer make it two?