The University of Alabama Board of Trustees Compensation Committee approved contracts for 17 Alabama athletics coaches and staff members Friday. The approved contracts include 15 football assistants and staffers, headlined by first-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.

Grubb was given a two-year contract that will pay him $1 million per year through Feb. 28, 2027. Grubb joined coach Kalen DeBoer’s staff this offseason after he held the same position with the Seattle Seahawks. Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne pointed out Grubb’s recent position in the pros as a key point in working out the details of his contract at Alabama.

“He had an existing contract with the Seattle Seahawks that helped us with the structure of our compensation for him,” Byrne said. “And there are playcallers within the SEC that are in that range. So it was the market rate for us.

“From a salary standpoint, we have usually been very aggressive from a football salary standpoint, and that is something we have promised Coach DeBoer from a staff-stability standpoint in maintaining his group that he has.”

Other notable football contracts approved by the board Friday include General Manager Courtney Morgan, wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard and defensive line coach Freddie Roach. Other football staff members, including Director of Player Personnel Bob Welton and Director of Sports Performance David Ballou also received new contracts.

Along with the new football contracts, Alabama basketball assistant coach Preston Murphy was also given an extension that will keep him in Tuscaloosa through Dec. 31, 2028. Murphy will make $675,000 per year in his new deal. Murphy has been instrumental in Alabama’s presence on the recruiting trail, helping grow the Tide’s profile under coach Nate Oats.

Here is the full list of new coach contracts approved by the committee:

Chris Kapilovic — Offensive line coach: 2 years, $925,000 per year ending Feb. 28. 2027

Maurice Linguist – Defensive backs coach: 2 years, $975,000 per year ending Feb. 28, 2027

Chuck Morrell — Linebackers coach: 2 years, $600,000 per year ending Feb. 28, 2027

Jay Nunez — Special teams coordinator: 2-year contract ending Feb. 28, 2027. Nunez will make $375,000 in the first year and $400,000 in the second year

Freddie Roach — Defensive line coach: 2-year contract ending Feb. 28, 2027. Roach will make $1.2 million in the first year and $1.3 million in the second year.

Christian Robinson — Linebackers coach: 2 years, $700,000 per year ending Feb. 28, 2027

JaMarcus Shephard — Wide receivers coach: 2 years, $1.1 million per year ending Feb. 28, 2027

Bob Welton — Director of Player Personell: 2 years, $295,000 per year ending Feb. 28, 2027

Jeff Allen — Strength coach: 3 years, $525,000 per year ending Feb. 29, 2028

David Ballou — Director of sports performance: 2 years, $950,000 per year ending Dec. 31, 2027

Bryan Ellis — Tight ends coach: 2 years, $600,000 per year ending Feb. 28, 2027

Robert Gillespie — Running backs coach: 2 years, $850,000 per year ending Feb. 28, 2027.

Jason Jones — Defensive backs coach: 2-year contract ending Feb. 28, 2027. Jones will make $250,000 in the first year and $450,000 in the second year.

Ryan Grubb — Offensive coordinator: 2 years, $1 million per year ending Feb. 28, 2027.

Courtney Morgan — General Manager: 2-year contract ending Dec. 31, 2027. Morgan will make $825,000 in the first year and $875,000 in the second year.

Preston Murphy — Assistant basketball coach: 2 years, $675,000 per year ending April 30, 2027.

Rashinda Reed — volleyball coach: 3 years, $250,000 per year ending Dec. 31, 2028.

Give BYU credit, as they were picked to finish near the bottom of the Big 12 Conference this past season. Instead, the Cougars put together a strong run that ended Thursday night in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

And honestly, on most other nights, they probably would have been moving on. But nobody was beating Alabama.

The Crimson Tide sank a tournament-record 25 three-pointers in posting a 113-88 victory over BYU. Alabama was 25 of 51 from deep and shot 53 percent overall, making just 10 field goals from inside the 3-point line.

Mark Sears sank 10 of those triples, scoring 34 points with eight assists. He also broke the single-game record for made 3-pointers. Chris Youngblood scored 19 and Grant Nelson had 10 rebounds.

For BYU, Richie Saunders finished with 25 points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists, with Egor Demin adding 15 points and seven assists.

Two more Big 12 teams will be in action with Arizona taking on Duke and Texas Tech playing Arkansas.

Sweet 16 Round

Thursday’s results

Friday’s Games

From sleepless nights to financial worries, stress has become a daily reality for many Alabamians—and it shows in the data. A new 2025 WalletHub study confirms that Alabama ranks among the top 10 most stressed states in the U.S., placing 8th overall.

The study analyzed 40 key indicators of stress, including work hours, financial strain, family pressures, and health-related challenges. Alabama was one of six Southern states to appear in the top 10, underscoring the region’s ongoing struggle with mental health access, economic insecurity, and limited resources.

The report evaluated multiple stressors and revealed that residents of Alabama experience disproportionate levels of financial and health-related stress. Key findings include:

Key Stress Indicators for Alabama

• 3rd fewest average hours of sleep per night

• 2nd-fewest psychologists per capita

• 3rd lowest average credit scores in the U.S.

These factors contributed to the state’s high stress ranking, which reflects ongoing strain in daily life and long-term well-being.

Top 10 Most Stressed States in 2025

Source: WalletHub’s analysis of 40 stress-related metrics

Color Legend: 🟥 Very High | 🟧 High | 🟨 Moderate-High | 🟩 Moderate

Southern States Under Pressure

The Deep South remains a stress hotspot. Alabama joins Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida in the top 10, highlighting a regional trend shaped by long-standing challenges like limited access to mental health care, lower credit scores, and economic instability.

Solutions and Support: What’s Being Done

Despite the troubling statistics, Alabama is taking steps to reduce stress levels through statewide and community-based initiatives.

Statewide Crisis Support

The Alabama Crisis System of Care provides comprehensive mental health services, including:

• The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7

• Regional crisis centers for psychiatric evaluation and stabilization

• Mobile crisis teams for on-site intervention

These services aim to reduce emergency room visits and offer faster help to those in crisis.

Community and Campus Resources

Organizations and institutions across Alabama offer free or low-cost stress-reduction programs. Some examples include:

Healthy Habits for Everyday Stress

Alabamians can also manage stress through personal routines:

• Regular physical activity, like walking or biking

• Practicing relaxation techniques, including deep breathing and mindfulness

• Maintaining balanced sleep and nutrition

• Seeking out community support networks

About the Study

WalletHub’s 2025 report analyzed data from government and research sources, grouping indicators into four categories: work stress, money stress, family stress, and health & safety stress.

Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].