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Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning won’t be replacing Nick Saban as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Neither, it seems, will Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. So, where does the Tide turn next.
What if I told you that it could be toward Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley?
Seems crazy, right? After all, Locksley just wrapped up his fifth season in College Park and hasn’t won more than eight games in any of them. But after taking over a program in disarray, Locksley has put together back-to-back eight-win seasons and has won three consecutive bowl games.
Mike Locksley Emerging As Surprise Alabama Head Coaching Candidate
According to FootballScoop’s John Brice, that’s enough to make the former Bama offensive coordinator a front-runner to replace his former boss in Tuscaloosa.
“Locksley has garnered significant support from former players, FootballScoop is told, and he also is believed to have key support from at least one prominent Alabama mega-booster as well as top former Tide assistants,” Brice reports.
While former players may not have a big say in the hire, the “mega-booster” likely does. It’s clearly that Locksley is well-liked within the program. And with the first two candidates (seemingly) turning the job down, it might be time for the Tide to pivot.
Washington’s Kalen DeBoer remains as the top name on the board at this point. But if DeBoer turns it down or bombs the interview process, Locksley could become a reality.
Brice states that Florida State’s Mike Norvell, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and current Bama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees remain in the running.
Though it’s difficult to see Rees getting his first head coaching gig at perhaps the country’s top program.
Norvell and Drinkwitz both had immensely successful 2023 seasons. But both also struggled at their respective jobs in years prior.
Regardless of who Alabama selects, a decision is expected within the next week.