Alabama

Where Alabama’s 2023 coaching staff ended up after Saban’s retirement

Published

2 years ago

February 2, 2024

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.

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Alabama

How to watch, stream Alabama softball vs Texas for SEC championship

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

How to watch, stream Alabama softball vs Texas for SEC championship

For the first time in five years, Alabama is heading to the SEC Softball Tournament championship.

The No. 2-seeded Crimson Tide (49-6) is coming off a 9-1 run-rule win over No. 3 seed Florida (48-10) on Friday, May 8. Alabama first opened tournament play with a 7-1 win over No. 7 Arkansas (42-11) on Thursday.

The Crimson Tide will face No. 4 Texas, which is coming off a walkout 5-4 win over No. 9 Georgia.

Alabama had not reached the SEC Tournament championship game since 2021, when it won its last conference championship.

Here’s what to know about how to follow the Crimson Tide against Texas in the SEC Tournament title game.

When does Alabama softball play vs Texas in SEC Tournament?

Location: John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Ky.

Game time — 4 p.m. CT Saturday, May 9

First pitch in the Alabama softball vs. Texas matchup is set for 4 p.m. CT Saturday, May 9 for the championship title.

What channel is Alabama softball vs Texas in SEC Tournament?

The 2026 SEC Softball Tournament conference championship game will air on ESPN.

How to listen to Alabama softball vs Texas in SEC Tournament

You can tune into each Alabama softball game on Catfish 100.1 FM.

2026 SEC Softball Tournament bracket

Click here to see the full 2026 SEC Softball Tournament bracket.

2026 SEC softball standings, conference records

All conference records are as of entering the SEC Softball Tournament.

Oklahoma (20-4)
Alabama (19-5)
Florida (17-7)
Texas (16-8)
Tennessee (16-8)
Texas A&M (16-8)
Arkansas (15-9)
LSU (12-11)
Georgia (12-12)
Mississippi State (9-15)
Missouri (9-15)
South Carolina (7-17)
Ole Miss (6-18)
Auburn (4-19)
Kentucky (1-23)

Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.

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Alabama

Alabama softball sends Florida home from SEC Tournament: What we learned

Published

13 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Alabama softball sends Florida home from SEC Tournament: What we learned

Alabama softball dominated all the way in its win to advance to its first SEC Tournament championship in five years.

The No. 2-seeded Crimson Tide (49-6) didn’t trail once in its 9-1 run-rule win over No. 3 seed Florida (48-10) on Friday, May 8. Alabama first opened tournament play with a 7-1 win over No. 7 Arkansas (42-11, 15-10) on Thursday.

Here are our three biggest takeaways from the Crimson Tide’s win over the Gators.

Alabama softball offense is starting to click at the right time

Alabama did not have to wait until the middle innings to find its offense this time.

Freshman Ambrey Taylor opened the scoring with a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. It was Taylor’s 11th home run of the season and her second in as many days after also going deep against Arkansas in the quarterfinals.

Alabama continued to build from there. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second, Ana Roman singled to right field to bring in another run. Marlie Giles followed with a two-run single, pushing Alabama ahead 4-0 before the inning ended.

Jena Young doubled to drive in two more runs, with one coming across on a fielding error, at the bottom of the third. Alexis Pupillo followed with an RBI single to stretch Alabama’s lead to 6-1 by the end of the inning.

Pupillo shot an RBI-double off the wall and Audrey Vandagriff doubled to score another, extending Alabama’s lead to 8-1, threatening run-rule territory with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, securing the run rule with an RBI single by Taylor.

After needing a later-than-preferred power surge to pull away from Arkansas, Alabama’s lineup looked more comfortable early against Florida. The Crimson Tide finished with nine runs on 13 hits.

Vic Moten handles early pressure in first SEC Tournament appearance

Vic Moten’s first SEC Tournament appearance did not start easily, but the freshman pitcher kept Florida from taking advantage of the new kid on the block.

Moten walked two batters in the first inning but answered by striking out three straight Gators to keep the game scoreless heading into the bottom half.

Her pitch count climbed quickly. Moten threw more than 30 pitches in each of the first two innings and more than 20 in the third, reaching 87 pitches after just three. But after battling through traffic early, she settled in with a seven-pitch 1-2-3 fourth inning.

Alabama’s lead gave Moten margin for error, but Florida’s offense still had enough firepower to threaten a comeback. Moten ended the complete-game effort striking out four and one run on three hits with seven walks. Not bad for the freshman’s first postseason appearance.

Alabama moves one win away from SEC Tournament history

Alabama’s win over Florida moved the Crimson Tide one step closer to separating itself in SEC Softball Tournament history.

Both No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Florida entered Friday tied with six SEC Softball Tournament championships apiece. With the semifinal win, Alabama will now have a chance to become the first program in conference history to win a seventh SEC Tournament title.

The Crimson Tide had won only two of its last seven meetings against the Gators entering Friday, including a loss to Florida in the 2024 Women’s College World Series. This was the first postseason meeting between the two programs since then.

Alabama had not reached the SEC Tournament championship game since 2021, when it won the tournament title.

When does Alabama softball play again?

After beating No. 7 Arkansas and No. 3 Florida on back-to-back days, the Crimson Tide will face the winner of No. 4 Texas vs. No. 9 Georgia in the SEC Softball Tournament championship game at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 9.

Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.

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Alabama

Rabies warning issued after fox attacks person in Alabama

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Rabies warning issued after fox attacks person in Alabama

State health officials are urging people to keep their pets vaccinated for rabies after a fox in Elmore County and a raccoon in Lee County tested positive for the virus.

On May 1, the raccoon was spotted acting strangely near Auburn, and the fox emerged from a wooded area and attacked a person in Tallassee, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. The person has sought medical treatment.

“Rabies is not seasonal, and we continue to see cases year-round, but late spring is a time when activity peaks, particularly in wildlife,” said Dr. Dee Jones, state veterinarian for the ADPH, “The primary risk of rabies from wildlife is our pets, and keeping them up to date on rabies vaccine is critical.”

Alabama state law requires that dogs, cats and ferrets 12 weeks of age and older be current with rabies vaccination. In addition to vaccination, area residents are advised to take the following precautions to avoid possible exposure to rabies:

Do not leave uneaten pet food or scraps near your residence.
Do not allow pets to run loose; confine them within a fenced-in area or with a leash.
Do not illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets.
Do not go near wildlife or domestic animals that are acting in a strange or unusual manner.
Caution children not to go near any stray or wild animal, regardless of its behavior.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com. To support his work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.

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