Alabama
Where Alabama’s 2023 coaching staff ended up after Saban’s retirement
When Nick Saban retired on Jan. 10, it didn’t just impact the man who had been Alabama football’s head coach for 17 seasons. Saban’s final Crimson Tide staff has seen significant change, since the final game of the 2023 campaign.
Even before Saban’s retirement, there was turnover in Tuscaloosa. Since Kalen DeBoer’s hiring, all but two of last season’s assistants have left the program.
Here’s a look at where each of UA’s on-field assistants from the 2023 season have landed.
Kevin Steele– Retired
The news of Steele’s retirement came before Saban’s. After three stints at Alabama, the defensive coordinator opted to hang it up.
His career began in 1980 and included a stint as Baylor’s head coach. He also spent time as the defensive coordinator at Auburn and Miami.
Tommy Rees– Cleveland Browns
Rees spent a single season in Tuscaloosa as Saban’s final offensive coordinator. It was his second coordinator job, after he moved over from his alma mater, Notre Dame, before the 2023 campaign.
He will reportedly coach tight ends for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
Holmon Wiggins– Texas A&M
Texas A&M scooped up Wiggins to join its new staff, under head coach Mike Elko. The former Duke head coach took over after the Aggies fired Jimbo Fisher.
Wiggins picked up a new title during his move. He’ll coach wideouts, just as he did with the Crimson Tide, but he’s also listed as a co-offensive coordinator in College Station.
Joe Cox– Ole Miss
Cox will also remain in the SEC. He’ll coach tight ends under a familiar face at Ole Miss, former Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
However, Cox won’t see his old team this season. Due to the SEC’s new schedule with Texas and Oklahoma joining the league, Alabama and Ole Miss will not play each other in 2024.
Freddie Roach– Alabama
Roach was one of two coaches who DeBoer retained for the 2024 season. He’ll continue his role as the Crimson Tide’s defensive line coach.
He joined Saban’s staff at Alabama before the 2022 season.
Robert Gillespie– Alabama
Gillespie came in to Alabama the same season as Roach. He’ll stay on as well, continuing to coach the Crimson Tide’s running backs.
Among other stops, Gillespie coached at North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia before coming to Tuscaloosa.
Travaris Robinson– Georgia
One of the key parts of Alabama’s defensive staff, DeBoer reportedly attempted to retain Robinson as his defensive coordinator. The effort was unsuccessful, and Robinson, who coached Alabama’s cornerbacks, headed off to Georgia.
He picked up a co-defensive coordinator job in Athens.
Eric Wolford– Kentucky
Maybe you can go home again. When Wolford left Kentucky to come coach the offensive line Alabama, Wildcats coach Mark Stoops was publicly angry.
However, the two seemingly managed to patch up their differences. Wolford returned to his old role as Kentucky’s offensive line coach.
Robert Bala– Western Michigan
Bala coached inside linebackers for Saban. He was announced as Western Michigan’s new defensive coordinator on Thursday.
He had joined the Crimson Tide for the 2023 season.
Coleman Hutzler– Mississippi State
Hutzler’s departure had been finalized before the 2023 season came to an end. He’s now the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State under new head coach Jeff Lebby.
He had coached outside linebacker at Alabama and also served as the special teams coordinator.
SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – The YMCA of South Alabama held a Healthy Kids Day at Spanish Fort Town Center Park.
Saturday’s event featured games and demonstrations, along with interactive activities featuring police and fire vehicles.
“I think just seeing so many organizations come together that serve kids, and just seeing kids have fun,” said Gwen Summer, CEO of the YMCA of South Alabama.
Marissa Rennaker, director of development for the YMCA of South Alabama, said the event exposed children to new activities.
“I think it’s been seeing all the kids laugh and try different things that they probably haven’t tried before,” Rennaker said. “There was a big group doing pickleball and yoga. We had ballet earlier, so just getting them out and exposed to things, I think it’s been great.”
The event was designed to kick off a healthy, active summer.
The YMCA of South Alabama is located at 27080 Pollard Road in Daphne.
Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.
Former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. has reportedly signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Anderson instantly solidified himself as one of the top defensive players in football throughout his rookie campaign in 2023. The star defensive end was named as the Rookie of the Year in 2023, as Anderson’s extension will officially keep him in Houston long-term, as well as make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson recorded an impressive 12 sacks on the Texans’ defensive line in 2025, as the former Alabama star has made history following his head turning extension with Houston.
Anderson was nothing short of a superstar throughout his time at Alabama. Houston drafted the talented lineman with the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, as Anderson was widely regarded as one of the top overall selections from his class.
The former Crimson Tide superstar has officially inked a massive extension with the Texans, as Anderson will undoubtedly continue playing a critical role on Houston’s defensive line over the coming seasons.
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Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said that No. 4 Texas would be “hungry” against the No. 11Crimson Tide coming off its first series loss of the season to Texas A&M.
The Longhorns certainly were, as they pounced all over Vaughn’s team, striking out 17 Alabama batters en route to a 10-2 win.
“The story of the game was they just kind of kicked our tail in every phase tonight,” Vaughn said.
Alabama starter Tyler Fay had been elite over his past four starts, dating back to his complete-game no-hitter against Florida, allowing just six earned runs over the 26.0 innings pitched in those games. That changed instantly on Friday evening, as leadoff batter Aiden Robbins opened the game with a double and catcher Carson Tinney took him deep for a two-run blast moments later.
Texas added a third run in the first off an Ethan Mendoza RBI double, setting the tone for a dominant day. Alabama did not record a hit until the fourth inning as Longhorn ace Dylan Volantis tore through batters, striking out 12 over six innings.
Fay ended up going 5.1 innings, just the second time he did not make it through the sixth. The other, against Auburn, was only due to Vaughn wanting to keep his pitch count down in the wake of the no-hitter. He allowed season-highs of seven earned runs and 12 hits in the loss.
The Longhorns added a run each in the third and the fifth, before Alabama put the slightest amount of pressure on Texas in the top of the sixth. Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron scored on the basepaths off an error and a wild pitch, respectively, to cut the Texas lead to three runs.
“You’ve got to find ways to score,” Vaughn said. “Those two guys just created two runs for us, and did a great job creating those runs and we crawl back in at 5-2, and it’s like, ‘Let’s go back to work…’ So thought we had that chance in those middle innings.”
The Longhorns effectively put the game to bed in the next frame, responding with three runs as Fay was relieved by Connor Lehman. Texas would add two more runs on the day, with the only silver lining coming in the fact that Alabama avoided a run-rule.
The Crimson Tide has now lost four straight SEC games after winning three consecutive series. Zane Adams takes the mound with the series on the line on Saturday, in a game that has been moved up to 12 p.m. CT due to anticipated rain in Austin.
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