Kalen DeBoer likely to fill Alabama OC vacancy by promoting from within
Kalen DeBoer is likely to promote from within for Alabama’s offensive coordinator opening.
DeBoer is leaning toward tagging tight ends coach Nick Sheridan as offensive coordinator, per sources. Less than a month on the job, the new Crimson Tide head coach was faced with hiring a new coordinator after Ryan Grubb was hired as the OC of the Seattle Seahawks. It appears Sheridan, who was already hired to coach tight ends, will be the replacement.
It could also be a situation where Alabama has co-offensive coordinators in DeBoer’s first year, which is similar to what ESPN reported this weekend. That is something BamaOnLine will continue to monitor as the new head coach rounds out his coaching staff. Whatever he decides, DeBoer is expected to be heavily involved with the offense, sources tell BOL.
Sheridan coached tight ends under DeBoer at Washington after replacing him as the offensive coordinator at Indiana from 2020-21. They worked together in Bloomington, Ind., in 2019 before DeBoer was hired as Fresno State’s head coach. Sheridan also has passing game coordinator experience at South Florida (2013) and Western Kentucky (2012).
As the offensive coordinator in 2020, Sheridan helped then-Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. become a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist and second-team All-Big Ten selection. Penix led the Big Ten with 274.2 passing yards per game. That same season, Ty Fryfolge was a first-team, all-conference selection and was named the Big Ten Receiver of the Year. IU ranked fourth in the Big Ten in scoring (28.9) and fifth in passing offense (250.9) that year.
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While Sheridan has coached tight ends in his last two stints with DeBoer, he also has coached quarterbacks at multiple stops, including Indiana (2017-18, 2000-21), South Florida, Western Kentucky and Saline (Mich.) High School. The former quarterback at Michigan also spent three seasons in the South as a graduate assistant at Tennessee from 2014-16.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported on Friday night that Sheridan and UA wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard were expected to stay in Tuscaloosa after Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff left for Seattle. According to Rittenberg, Sheridan and Shephard could be co-OCs in their first seasons with the Tide, with Sheridan calling plays and coaching quarterbacks.
Alabama has yet to officially announce any of DeBoer’s on-field coaching hires.
Alabama’s Expected 2024 Coaching Staff
OFFENSE
Nick Sheridan, OC (Washington)
JaMarcus Shephard, WR coach (Washington)
Robert Gillespie, RB coach (Alabama)
DEFENSE
Kane Wommack, DC (South Alabama)
Freddie Roach, DL coach (Alabama)
Maurice Linguist, Co-DC/DB coach (Buffalo)
Colin Hitschler, Co-DC/DB coach (Wisconsin)
William Inge, LB coach (Washington)
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