What Alabama's coordinator turnover means for 2023 roster

Few programs have been able to withstand as much coaching attrition as Alabama over the years under coach Nick Saban. But the Alabama coordinator turnover in 2023 is extreme.

Both coordinators are gone, with Bill O’Brien and Pete Golding replaced by Tommy Rees and Kevin Steele as offensive and defensive coordinator, respectively.

“I look at it differently than a lot of fans probably, and that’s OK,” said BOL’s Jimmy Stein in an On3 Roundtable. “I don’t look at it like losing the coordinators hurt. Because I’m with the fans on that. I don’t think losing Bill O’Brien and Pete Golding specifically, I don’t think that’s a big ding to Alabama because they’re replaced with good, smart, experienced guys.

“Even Tommy Rees as young as he is has been the OC at Notre Dame for a few seasons, I mean he’s not inexperienced.”

Whether the Alabama coordinator turnover can be a positive remains to be seen. Rees is viewed as one of the hottest up-and-comers in the sport, though replacing the veteran O’Brien won’t be easy.

On the other side, Steele is a long-time defensive assistant with plenty of knowledge of the SEC.

While Alabama was quite good offensively last year, the Crimson Tide came up short defensively in some key spots, particularly in losses to LSU and Tennessee. Golding, in particular, was under fire for his performance.

“I don’t think losing those guys hurts,” Stein said. “I don’t think having new coordinators is bad. I think there would be a lot of studies or a lot of evidence out there, ‘Hey guys, first-year coordinators don’t fare well.’ And we never read that. As much football talk as there is all over the Internet, you don’t read that story because it’s probably not true. I think first-year guys at Alabama have had some success.”

Interestingly, while many might give the new coordinators a good deal of credit should Alabama bounce back and return to the College Football Playoffs, Stein thinks that would be more a reflection of other factors.

That’s not to say the Alabama coordinator turnover can’t help, only that the improvements that are really needed go beyond coaching.

“If Alabama is improved offensively and defensively I think a lot of fans are going to credit Tommy Rees and credit Kevin Steele,” Stein said. “I’m still a talent guy. I think if Alabama’s better it’s because the players are better. I think it’s because several players on the team made a big step in improvement, and then you added key pieces like a Caleb Downs type or even Justice Haynes. Malik Benson. You’ve added these guys and that’s why the team’s better.

“I don’t think losing O’Brien and Golding hurts, but I think if there is improvement I’m not going to be as quick to credit Kevin Steele and Tommy Rees just because I’ll say, ‘Well, look at the players and the job they’re doing.’ I tend to think it’s all about the players.”