Report: Alabama assistant named finalist for head coaching job

Alabama associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach Charles Kelly has been named a finalist for the Troy head coaching vacancy, according to Footballscoop.com. The report cites unnamed sources with “direct knowledge” of the situation.

Charles Kelly joined the Alabama football staff in 2019, following one year at Tennessee. Before that, he worked at ACC schools Georgia Tech and Florida State, where he won a national championship as special teams coordinator and linebacker coach under Jimbo Fisher.

The 54-year old Alabama native played at Auburn from 1986-89 before starting his coaching career within the state’s high school scene. He has no head coaching experience at any level.

The report also named Kentucky co-defensive coordinator Jon Sumrall and West Virginia defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley as potential candidates. The report cited one unidentified finalist. Footballscoop.com reports that all candidates, including the Alabama associate defensive coordinator, were expected to meet with Troy athletics director Brent Jones on Thursday.

Another coordinator on the radar

Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding is reportedly a top candidate to take over for Billy Napier at Louisiana, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

Pete Golding has been Alabama’s defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for four seasons. Prior to Bama, Golding, a Hammond, Louisiana native, coached at UTSA, Southern Miss, Southeastern Louisiana and more.

Alabama’s defense hasn’t been as stiff as in prior years of the Saban era but Golding’s made improvements over time.

In 2018, the Alabama defense allowed 320 yards per game which was 16th in the country. That was the Tide’s worst defense since 2007. When Pete Golding took over in 2019, his defense allowed 324 yards per game (20th). Last year, the number jumped again to 352 yards per game (32nd), although they did face an all-SEC schedule, plus Notre Dame and Ohio State.

This season though, Alabama is 20th in scoring defense and seventh in yards allowed per game (294.2). Golding’s defense is second in the SEC after the Georgia Bulldogs.

Golding is not, however, the only coach who could be well-suited for the job. In fact, Golding’s former coach Ron Roberts, is also being considered at Louisiana, according to Rittenberg. Roberts, the current Baylor defensive coordinator, was Louisiana’s defensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019. Prior to Louisiana, he was a head coach at both Southeastern Louisiana and Delta State.

Rittenberg also named an internal candidate to watch – Michael Desormeaux. Desormeaux is Louisiana’s co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. He played quarterback for Louisiana in the late 2000s before beginning his coaching career at the high school level.