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Tommy Rees looks back on 'surreal' moment when Nick Saban called him about Alabama

On3 imageby:Sam Gillenwater08/06/23

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Alabama OC Tommy Rees
Gary Cosby Jr. | Tuscaloosa News | USA TODAY NETWORK

Nick Saban has two vital spots to fill on his staff this offseason with both of his coordinators leaving for other jobs. That led to a positively bizarre moment for Tommy Rees once Saban offered him the gig as Alabama’s offense coordinator.

Rees spoke about what it was like to receive that offer from Saban and the Crimson Tide at ‘Bama’s media day on Sunday. He reminded everyone that he was very familiar with his new boss and team considering they’d crossed paths while he was a player and coach at Notre Dame.

“I competed against him as a player, sort of, and then again as a coach in ’20. So, obviously, I faced two great teams in this program’s history,” explained Rees. “Really, preparing for those games? You could see and feel just the intensity at which Alabama prepared in.”

To get to the moment, though, Rees said that he wanted to calm his nerves upon getting the call from Saban. He wanted to prove, to himself and to those who would be evaluating him, that he was more than capable of taking the position in Tuscaloosa.

“The call is something that, to be honest with you, was a little surreal. But, at the end of the day, this is my profession. This is something that I want to be doing for a long time,” said Rees. “I wanted to make sure that, if the opportunity to interview did present itself after the call, it was something I was prepared for.”

“Obviously, just knowing coach from a distance there? And what he looks for in his coaches and what he expects of the guys in this building? I wanted to make sure that I was fully prepared to have an opportunity that was presented to me,” Rees said. “You kind of try and flush the emotion as quickly as you can. And just take it as another interview. That’s really what it was.”

Saban is going to ask a lot of Rees as he has with every person who has coordinated for him before. That’s why, upon accepting the job, Rees meant business immediately as he prepares to coach his offense for the first time with the Tide.

Steele admits he did not see ‘shocking’ call from Saban coming

This offseason, Nick Saban had to replace both of his coordinators. On the defensive side of the ball, that meant bringing in Kevin Steele.

As Steele admitted at Alabama Football Media Day, Saban’s call to him completely shocked him.

“Well, shocking,” Steele said of the call. “I did not see it coming. It was not something I expected. But, obviously, when you get a chance to coach at the University of Alabama? For the best coach that has ever done it? Sometimes you look in the mirror and say, ‘Why me?’”

“But I’m very blessed to be here,” said Steele. “You couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Kevin Steele has had multiple stints on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama during his career. It’s an experience he clearly enjoys and, after his most recent stint at Miami, he was excited to return.

“If you’re going to coach college football? To coach at the University of Alabama for Coach Saban? That’s what you wanna do.”

Steele then emphasized how special of a place he thinks that Alabama is within college sports.

“Obviously excited to be back at Alabama,” Steele said. “It’s a very, very special place for a lot of reasons. But the commitment to excellence that touches on a daily basis, no matter what it is, it’s unparalleled. And so it’s exciting to be back. As far as defense? We all know this. We have arguably – to some people but not to me – the best defensive mind that I’ve ever been around in the building. So the scheme of how we do things and go about things is Coach Saban. And we obviously help every way we can in that. But we are who we are.”