As Nick Saban announced his retirement as Alabama’s coach on January 10, several notable coaching changes had already occurred at the coordinator and assistant levels during the coaching carousel. However, significant movement has continued since Saban’s announcement.
Bobby Petrino has taken over as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator, bringing with him the experience of leading the Razorbacks to a No. 5 finish in his final season as head coach in 2011, despite being fired for dishonesty regarding an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. USC coach Lincoln Riley has made changes to address defensive struggles by reshaping his coaching staff with notable additions. Ohio State coach Ryan Day, following three consecutive losses to Michigan, has made adjustments by distancing himself from the offense and appointing Chip Kelly, former UCLA head coach, as the lead playcaller after Bill O’Brien’s departure to Boston College. Noteworthy assistant coaching moves have also taken place at programs like Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU, and other contenders for the College Football Playoff’s expanded 12-team format.
Saban’s retirement has also resulted in significant staff overhauls at Alabama, which has recruited two current FBS head coaches for its defensive staff. Other programs such as Washington and Arizona, entering new conferences this season, will also have new coaching staffs.
Let’s take a closer look at the notable coordinator and staffing changes from recent months and how these moves will impact the upcoming 2024 season.
USC’s star-studded staff begins to rebuild struggling defense
Riley’s exceptional track record with offenses, particularly quarterbacks, is well-known, with three Heisman Trophy winners, a Heisman runner-up, and potentially three No. 1 overall picks in seven drafts. However, his inability to achieve success on college football’s biggest stages has been attributed to the need for improvement on the defensive side of the ball. USC’s defense has allowed an average of 31.7 points per game over the past two years, emphasizing the significance of addressing this area.
During the transition from Oklahoma to USC, Riley initially retained defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, but after a challenging end to the 2022 season, he made the decision to relieve him of his duties in early November. This move indicated Riley’s recognition that he needed to step out of his comfort zone and assemble a group of assistants with strong leadership experience.
To bolster USC’s defense, Riley made a notable hire by bringing in D’Anton Lynn from crosstown rival UCLA to lead the defensive unit. Lynn, the son of NFL assistant coach Anthony Lynn, played a key role in the Bruins’ defensive improvement, as they went from ranking 89th nationally in points allowed in 2022 to 14th this past season, holding opponents to an average of 18.4 points per game. Additionally, UCLA briefly led the nation in rushing defense and finished second behind Penn State. Joining Lynn is Eric Henderson, who will serve as co-coordinator and defensive line coach. Henderson, known for his work with Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive front, brings valuable expertise to USC’s defensive coaching staff.
Following the departure of defensive backs coach Donte Williams to Georgia, USC made the decision to bring in Doug Belk as his replacement. Belk has held coordinator roles at Houston for the past five seasons and was once considered a rising star in coaching, with potential for a future head-coaching position. USC’s most intriguing addition, however, is Matt Entz, who left his head-coaching position at North Dakota State to become the linebackers coach and assistant head coach for defense. Entz brings an impressive track record, having guided the Bison to two FCS national titles and an outstanding overall record of 60-11.
These changes have resulted in a significantly revamped coaching staff for USC, providing an opportunity for the program to improve defensively, which is crucial in a conference like the Big Ten where defensive prowess is highly valued. The new staff gives USC the potential to alter its fortunes on the defensive side of the ball.
Without Saban, Alabama’s staff begins new era
Alabama will embark on a new era as they hit the practice field without Nick Saban at the helm for the first time since 2006. All eyes will be on new Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer, with his every move and statement initially analyzed in the context of the Saban era. DeBoer’s coaching staff will also face close scrutiny. While he retained key coaches like defensive line coach Freddie Roach and running backs coach Robert Gillespie, there have been significant changes throughout the staff. DeBoer has brought a mix of familiar faces from Washington and previous coaching stops, as well as some new additions, to join him in Tuscaloosa.
The allure of coaching at Alabama, even after Saban’s departure, was evident as DeBoer was able to attract two defensive assistants who left seemingly secure FBS head-coaching positions. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, previously at South Alabama, and defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist, formerly at Buffalo, both joined DeBoer’s staff. DeBoer had worked with Wommack during their time as coordinators at Indiana in 2019, while Linguist brings SEC experience from his coaching stints at Texas A&M and Mississippi State.
Several of Alabama’s new assistants arrived from Washington, including wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard and tight ends coach Nick Sheridan. However, after offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff departed for the Seattle Seahawks, DeBoer had to make adjustments. It is anticipated that Shephard and Sheridan will serve as co-offensive coordinators, with Sheridan also overseeing the quarterbacks. Sheridan has previous playcalling experience at Indiana and is seen as the likely successor for that role at Alabama, although DeBoer may also take on those duties himself.
One of the main questions surrounding DeBoer and his assistants is how they will adapt to the competitive landscape of the SEC. DeBoer addressed the departure of outside linebackers coach William Inge by bringing in Christian Robinson from Baylor. Robinson brings extensive SEC experience, having coached linebackers at Auburn and Florida, and served as a graduate assistant at three other SEC programs. Among the staff, only Robinson, Roach, Gillespie, and Linguist have significant previous experience in the SEC.
Comfort with Kelly should allow Ohio State’s Day to be a true CEO
Ohio State capitalized on a fortuitous sequence of events in the coaching carousel, which worked in their favor due to the timing of key moves. On January 31, Jeff Hafley, the former Ohio State assistant and Boston College head coach, left to become the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator. This departure created an opening at Boston College that was quickly filled by Mike O’Brien, who had been hired as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator just 12 days prior. O’Brien emerged as a top candidate for the BC job, and when his hiring was finalized on February 9, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day wasted no time in pursuing UCLA’s Chip Kelly.
Day’s ability to hire Kelly may have been more challenging earlier in the coaching cycle, as many NFL coordinator positions were still unsettled. However, by the time Kelly was hired, he had already been interviewing for NFL offensive coordinator jobs without securing one. Day saw the opportunity and swiftly brought Kelly on board.
While it’s possible that Day could have initially hired Kelly instead of O’Brien, the uncertain landscape of NFL coaching positions made it a more complex decision. Now, Day has his former coach and longtime mentor by his side in a season with exceedingly high expectations. Although Kelly has not held a coordinator title since 2008 at Oregon, he has remained deeply involved in offensive schemes both in college (Oregon, UCLA) and in the NFL (Philadelphia, San Francisco).
In a discussion on February 7, just two days before O’Brien’s departure and Kelly’s subsequent hiring, Day spoke candidly about the difficulty of relinquishing playcalling duties but acknowledged the necessity of doing so due to the increased workload for college head coaches. While he expressed his love for calling plays and being involved in the football aspect, he recognized the importance of redirecting his energy and time to other areas.
Although Day was not certain at the time that O’Brien would be leaving, he emphasized the criticality of ensuring the right person was in place. While the O’Brien-Day partnership could have been successful, the two had not previously worked together. In contrast, Day and Kelly have a special connection that should provide support to Day as he steps away from playcalling responsibilities.
