Pete Thamel: Kalen DeBoer, Mike Norvell expected to emerge as focal points in Alabama coaching search

Just over 24 hours since Nick Saban retired, the coaching search has taken center stage. Replacing Saban at Alabama will not be easy but it’s athletic director Greg Byrne’s job to find the person suitable for the job. Some of the biggest names in college football have already been linked, although Oregon‘s Dan Lanning took his name out of the running on Thursday.

Looking at any message board out there, a common phrase is “make them say no.” Well, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Byrne did exactly that, making a few phone calls to big-named coaches. Georgia‘s Kirby Smart was one specifically mentioned by Thamel.

“The first day of this Alabama search, at least a full day, could be considered a winnowing day,” Thamel said. “Alabama obviously had some aspirational candidates and they were going to make their calls to the Kirby Smarts of the world. Essentially, force people to make them say no.”

Smart will forever be linked to Alabama for being the defensive coordinator under Saban. But it’s highly unlikely he ever leaves Athens for another college coaching job. Although if you are Byrne, you have to at least hear Smart turn down the job.

This part of the process was likely not exclusive to Smart but still something Byrne did according to Thamel.

Alabama can now search for candidates who have mutual interest, with two names standing out in front of the others. Thamel reports Kalen DeBoer and Mike Norvell will become the “center” of the coaching search over the next couple of days.

“They’re going to winnow day to the candidates where there are strong mutual interest,” Thamel said. “My expectation over the next 48 hours is that Mike Norvell at Florida State and Kalen DeBoer at Washington come into focus… Look for those two to become the center of the search in the near future.”

Thamel went on to mention how Byrne gave the players a timeline of 72 hours, which is an important number in the search. With the NCAA transfer portal open, the players were described as “anxious” as to who would be the one to replace Nick Saban. Getting them a name before the end of the week seems to be critical.

For now, based on reporting from Thamel on Thursday night, it seems as if the name presented to the Alabama players will be one of DeBoer or Norvell.