Tommy Rees 'looking forward' to joining Alabama staff

Things are officially official in Tuscaloosa for Tommy Rees. He was announced as the Alabama offensive coordinator on Monday, joining from Notre Dame. Rees will be replacing Bill O’Brien and hoping to bring a new spark to the program after the past two seasons.

Challenges are ahead for Rees, who is “looking forward” to joining the Alabama staff. He cited working with head coach Nick Saban and the entire program as a reason for excitement. While Rees has already been on the recruiting trail, getting onto the practice field is where he will begin to make an impact.

“I have the utmost respect for what Coach Saban has built at Alabama and the tradition of this program,” Rees said in a statement. “I’m excited to have this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to getting in the meeting room and on the practice field with this team.”

Important decisions will have to be made right away from Rees. Most notable is the quarterback competition set to take place over the course of spring practice. Jalen Milroe will be going up against Ty Simpson, as both look to take over for Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young.

No matter who the starter is, Rees will be looking to bring a new identity back to Alabama. If he sticks with his ways from South Bend, the Crimson Tide will get back to pushing people around and being the more physical team.

Nick Saban welcomes three staffers to Alabama

Rees was not the only coach to be introduced by Alabama on Monday. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and inside linebacker coach Austin Armstrong are both now officially members of the Crimson Tide staff.

Saban said all three are going to play important roles in the program, both on the field and from a recruiting standpoint.

“We are excited to bring in such a gifted group of coaches to develop our players both on and off the field,” Saban said. “Kevin, Tommy and Austin have a great mix of energy, enthusiasm and experience that will be a tremendous asset to our program. They are all excellent teachers of the game and fantastic recruiters who bring a wealth of experience and resources to our staff.”

All three of Armstrong, Rees, and Steele were coordinators last season. The last two were with Notre Dame and Miami respectively, while Armstrong was brought from Southern Miss. Some big-time hires from Saban heading into the 2023 season.