Alabama
Revisiting Kirby Smart, Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban’s 2015 Alabama coaching staff
College Football Playoff remains unclear and chaotic midseason
With a very unclear CFP field midway through the 2025 season, Before The Snap argues why this might be the best playoff race yet.
Despite entering his second year of retirement as a head coach, Nick Saban continues to have a major influence on college football today.
Look no further than the Saturday, Oct. 18 matchup between No. 5 Ole Miss and No. 7 Georgia for proof. The matchup pits two former Saban assistant coaches against each other in a game with a lot of SEC and College Football Playoff implications.
Lane Kiffin and Kirby Smart served as the Alabama offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively, in 2015, for a Crimson Tide team that finished the season 14-1 and defeated No. 1 Clemson 45-40 in the CFP national championship game. In fact, looking back, that coaching staff was full of head coaching talent across college football today.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2015 Alabama coaching staff and where they are now:
2015 Alabama coaching staff, revisited
Head coach: Nick Saban
Now: Retired
The 2015 college football season was Year 8 for Saban as the Alabama head coach, and he put together the best coaching staff in the country. Alabama won its fourth national championship under his leadership that season, and first since 2012.
The Crimson Tide’s lone loss came to No. 15 Ole Miss on Sept. 19, dropping their record to 2-1 at the time. However, Alabama would win 12 in a row, including the SEC championship vs. Florida, a CFP semifinal against No. 3 Michigan State and the national championship against top-ranked Clemson.
Offensive Coordinator: Lane Kiffin
- Now: Ole Miss football head coach
- Career record: 112-52
Kiffin, in his second year as the Alabama offensive coordinator, had one of the easiest go-to plays in the history of college football in 2015: Hand it off to Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry. In his first year as a starter, Henry rushed for an SEC-record 2,219 yards.
The former Tennessee and USC head coach used his Alabama tenure to rebuild his status as a coach, taking a head coach role with FAU after his Alabama gig ended unceremoniously ahead of the 2017 CFP championship game vs. Clemson.
He led the Owls to a 26-13 record to get the Ole Miss head coach offer. Kiffin has led the Rebels to a 50-18 record in his five-plus seasons leading Ole Miss. The 2025 season is Kiffin’s best shot of reaching the CFP.
Defensive Coordinator: Kirby Smart
- Now: Georgia football head coach
- Career record: 110-20
Smart has had the privilege of not only working under Saban, but also coaching under former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. The 2015 season was Smart’s final year in Tuscaloosa, as he accepted the Georgia head coaching position on Dec. 6, 2015 — over a month before Alabama won the national title.
In his 10 years leading the Bulldogs, Smart has posted a 110-20 record and won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. He has only a 1-7 record vs. Alabama, including a 1-5 record vs. Nick Saban.
Assistant head coach/offensive line: Mario Cristobal
- Now: Miami football head coach
- Career record: 89-76
Just as Kiffin did, Cristobal used the Alabama assistant position to help rebuild his status as a coach. After logging a 27-47 career record with FIU, he joined Saban’s staff in 2013. Cristobal was an elite recruiter for the Crimson Tide, finishing as the National Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports in 2015.
The 2015 Alabama offensive line led by Cristobal won the inaugural Joe Moore Award. Cristobal actually spurned the Miami assistant position to take a role on Saban’s staff. Now as a coach at his alma mater of Miami, Cristobal has led to a 15-3 record over the last two seasons. Miami is a legitimate national title contender in Year 4 under Cristobal.
Assistant head coach/defensive backs: Mel Tucker
- Now: Unemployed
- Career record: 25-21
After being replaced as the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator, Tucker took a position on Saban’s staff as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in 2015. He followed Smart to Georgia in 2016 and eventually landed head coaching roles with Colorado (2019) and Michigan State (2020).
Michigan State fired Tucker in September 2023 following allegations of sexual harassment.
Wide receivers: Billy Napier
- Now: Florida football coach
- Career record: 61-35
Just as Cristobal had done, Napier stepped down at a different role to be on Saban’s staff. Napier accepted a position with Jimbo Fisher at FSU to be the tight ends coach but, less than a month later, he joined Saban’s staff as the wide receivers coach.
Napier was responsible for getting five-star offensive tackle Cam Robinson and five-star wide receiver Calvin Ridley to Tuscaloosa. The now-Florida football coach finds himself on the hot seat with a 21-23 record at Florida, after he went 40-12 as the Louisiana coach.
Graduate assistant: Dan Lanning
- Now: Oregon football coach
- Career record: 40-7
Lanning spent one year on the Alabama coaching staff under Saban in 2015 as a graduate assistant, working with outside linebackers. Following his year with Alabama, Lanning took an inside linebackers coaching position with Memphis under Mike Norvell.
He was hired as an outside linebackers coach by Smart in 2018 and bumped up to defensive coordinator after Tucker took the Colorado job. He was named the Oregon head coach on Dec. 11, 2021, and then helped Georgia beat Alabama in the 2022 CFP national championship game.
Alabama
Alabama NAACP Releases 2026 Selma Jubilee Weekend Schedule
The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP has announced its official schedule for the 2026 NAACP-sponsored Selma Jubilee Bridge Crossing Weekend, set for March 6–8 in Montgomery and Selma.
Held under the theme “A Time for Standing,” the annual commemoration honors the Foot Soldiers of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches and recognizes the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and Rev. Jesse Jackson for their roles in advancing civil rights and voting access.
The three-day event will bring together national, state and local leaders, along with youth and college chapters, faith partners and community members for activities focused on reflection, education and civic engagement.
Scheduled events include a civic discussion titled “The New Civic Path” on March 6 at the Montgomery Interpretive Center at Alabama State University, followed by a Jubilee Gala that evening at Embassy Suites in Montgomery. On March 7, the Birmingham Metro Branch will host a bus trip to Selma, while a statewide civic engagement training will take place in Montgomery.
SEE ALSO: Bridge Crossing Jubilee to honor Rev. Jesse Jackson’s legacy in Selma
SEE ALSO: 16th Street Baptist Church: Keeping a Legacy Alive 63 Years Later
On March 8, participants will take part in the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Parade, voter activation efforts, worship services at Brown Chapel AME Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church, and the traditional bridge crossing at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Organizers say the weekend will emphasize continued civic participation and community engagement across Alabama.
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March 6 — Alabama NAACP Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Gala 5:30PM Embassy Suites by Hilton, 300 Tallapoosa St, Montgomery, AL 36104
March 7 — NAACP Birmingham Metro Branch Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Bus Trip 8AM–5PM Broad Street and Water Avenue in Selma Alabama
March 7 — Alabama State NAACP Statewide Civic Engagement Training 8–4:15PM Homewood Suites, 7800 EastChase Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36117
March 8 — Alabama State NAACP in the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Parade 8AM–10AM Begins at 1722 Broad St and concludes at the National Voting Rights Museum
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Statewide Bridge Crossing Jubilee Bus Trip 8AM–5PM Alabama State University, Untenese and Mobile Branch and University of Alabama, Oakwood University, Broad Street and Water Avenue, Selma
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Participation in Worship Services 10AM–2PM Brown Chapel AME Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church, Selma
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Youth and College Civic Engagement Voter Activation 8AM–2PM Broad Street and Water Ave, Selma
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Statewide Bridge Crossing 11:15PM – Line up Alabama NAACP Tent on Waters Ave or at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma
Alabama
3 Alabama players who helped their draft stock at 2026 NFL combine
Each player had a pivotal role on the Crimson Tide in 2025.
Alabama had a multitude of former players who performed at an elite level at the NFL combine this past weekend.
Former Alabama star quarterback Ty Simpson was among those who put his talents on full display in Indianapolis, as Simpson continues to emerge as a top quarterback prospect available in April’s draft.
Numerous Crimson Tide stars on both sides of the football were able to have an excellent showing at the combine as well, with each playmaker a vital component to the Tide’s success in 2025.
Here are three Alabama players who helped their draft stock rise at the NFL combine.
Ty Simpson, Quarterback
Simpson is widely regarded as the best quarterback prospect available outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. The talented redshirt junior put on an absolute show at the NFL combine, as Simpson delivered multiple perfect throws and put his talents on full display throughout Saturday’s events.
The former Alabama star is a candidate to potentially shine day one in his campaign in the NFL, as Simpson’s draft stock continues to rise prior to April.
Jam Miller, Running Back
Miller is an extremely fast and athletic running back, despite struggling in the Tide’s backfield last season. The star running back recorded an impressive 4.43u 40-yard dash time, as Miller could very easily shine in the NFL next season with consistent playing time.
Miller was nothing short of elite throughout his entire performance at the combine in Indianapolis, as the former Tide running back continues to rise in a multitude of draft rankings around the football world.
Kadyn Proctor, Offensive Tackle
Proctor played a crucial role on Alabama’s offensive line last season. The star lineman reportedly slimmed down prior to the NFL combine, as Proctor displayed elite speed and athleticism throughout Sunday’s combine in Indianapolis.
Proctor is widely expected to be a mid-to-late first round selection in April, as the talented lineman’s efforts during the combine could quickly begin to work in Proctor’s favor during next month’s draft.
The 2026 NFL draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania starting on April 23, as each Crimson Tide star will look to shine throughout their rookie campaign in the NFL.
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Alabama
Husband, 19, fatally shot wife, 24, himself at Alabama hospital moments after welcoming their first child
A husband fatally shot his wife before turning the gun on himself at an Alabama hospital just moments after they welcomed their first child on Sunday.
Kynath Terry Jr., 19, gunned down 24-year-old Precious Johnson before fatally shooting himself inside the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, WTVM 13 reported.
Johnson delivered a healthy baby just before she was murdered. It’s not immediately clear if the baby was present during the shooting, but police said that Terry and Johnson were the only ones injured.
Terry’s mother told the outlet that the couple were having some marital issues leading up to Johnson’s due date, but nothing that made her fear her son would become violent.
She told the outlet that Terry completed Army National Guard training before tying the knot with Johnson.
She noted that Johnson didn’t want Terry’s side of the family at the hospital for her child’s birth, but it’s unclear if anyone from the mother-to-be’s own family was there.
The hospital was plunged into a lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” while police investigated reports of a shooting. It wasn’t lifted until hours later when they determined there was “no active threat to patients, team members or the public,” the outlet reported.
The Homewood Police Department described the tragedy as “an apparent murder-suicide and is domestic in nature.”
Danne Howard, the president of the Alabama Hospital Association, told the outlet that the chilling attack “was an isolated incident” unlike anything she’d encountered during her three decades working in the state.
Howard said, in the wake of the tragedy, the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital would undergo a security overhaul implementing “lessons learned” from a mandated after-action report.
Just three months ago, in a town six miles outside of Homewood, a beloved sports reporter was fatally shot by her husband before taking his own life. Their 3-year-old son, who was unharmed, led his grandfather to his parents’ bodies.
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