While Alabama continues the search for a new defensive coordinator for 2023, the Crimson Tide have apparently made their decision on who will run the offense this year.
According to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, Alabama have agreed to a deal with Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to leave his position with the Fighting Irish and take the same role in Tuscaloosa.
Rees has been Notre Dame’s quarterbacks coach since 2017 and their offensive coordinator since 2020. The 30-year-old assistant coach also boasts a year of NFL experience.
Rees’ offenses were good enough to secure double-digit wins in five straight seasons prior to the departure of Brian Kelly after the 2021 season. They reached the College Football Playoff twice under Rees’ tutelage.
Interestingly enough, Tommy Rees’ connection to Brian Kelly might have made him all the more appealing of a candidate for Alabama.
Kelly and the LSU Tigers were one of only two teams to beat Alabama in 2022 – a loss that ultimately knocked the Crimson Tide out of the SEC Championship Game. Rees was one of the top staffers at Notre Dame who did not follow Kelly to LSU.
In hiring Rees, Saban might be killing two birds with one stone: Getting a coach with a bright future who can do a lot more with the plethora of weapons he has to offer, and a coach who knows how Brian Kelly runs his team.
Things could get very interesting when Alabama host LSU this November.