Nick Saban showers new Alabama OC Tommy Rees with praise

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Alabama had to replace both of its coordinators this offseason with Kevin Steele returning for a third stint and Tommy Rees coming to Tuscaloosa from Notre Dame.

To kick off Day 3 of SEC Media Days, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said he has been “really pleased” by the two new hires but showered his new offensive coordinator with praise.

“Tommy Rees is one of the brightest young guys that I’ve seen in a long time in this business,” Saban said. “And he’s been a great addition and brought a lot of positives to the offensive side of the ball in terms of his ideas and how he relates to players, how he presents to players. His energy and enthusiasm on the field has been contagious. I think I see a great trust in our players with Tommy and what he tries to do from a leadership standpoint on offense.”

Rees was named the quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame, his alma mater, in 2017, returning to a position room that he occupied as a player from 2010-13. Three years later, Rees was promoted to offensive coordinator, and in his first year at his new post, the Fighting Irish finished the 2020 campaign with a 10-2 record, losing to Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

The Irish averaged 31.8 points per game, which ranked 41st nationally, this past season while they sorted through a quarterback battle. The best statistical season, scoring-wise, under Rees was in 2021 when Notre Dame finished the year 19th in the nation with 35.2 points per game. In his first season of calling plays in 2020, the Irish averaged. 33.4 points per game (30th).

Saban is more than twice as old as his new, 31-year-old offensive coordinator, but when asked about the age gap between the two men, he continued to commend the young play-caller.

“First of all, I still feel like I’m 39,” Saban said. “And Tommy’s great. He’s mature. He does a great job presenting to the players. He has good relationships with the players. He’s very bright. He understands the game. He’s a very good quarterback coach in terms of helping guys improve at that position, which I think is critical. We don’t have any issues. He’s very respectful of what we wanna do and how we wanna do it, and the guy’s hungry, wants to learn.

“I think he’s one of the brightest young coaches that I’ve been around for a long time.”

Alabama has to replace a lot on offense this offseason, including Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young. But one starter that is back is offensive tackle JC Latham, who will likely be voted to the All-SEC Preseason Team later this week and like what he’s seen from Rees so far.

“I think just knowing him as a person, he’s a great person,” Latham said. “I can tell he has a love for the game, a passion for the game. I think as far as the offense that he’s installed and brought to the team, it utilizes everybody’s strengths. We do whatever we got to do for whatever our strength is to succeed on that play or the series or whatever it might be.

“So understanding that, I think we have a great group. I think we have a great scheme that we’re willing to just showcase, show the world.”

Other SEC head coaches praise Rees

Two other SEC head coaches that made the SEC Media Day rounds earlier this week had some positive comments from their previous stints working with the Alabama offensive coordinator.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly: “Well, I think what I can share is the first thing is we have a great relationship that we’ve kept since I recruited him and he played for me. I think that for him, he wanted to make sure that this was the right move in his career, and I felt like it was. I thought it was gonna be a great move. Now, it was ultimately his decision. He didn’t make it because I told him to do it. He did it because he felt like it was.

“But you don’t get a chance to work for Nick Saban very often, and when you do, good things generally happen. Matter of fact, mostly all the time. So that’s not a hard track record to look at. So if you get a chance to work for Nick Saban, if you get a chance to work at a place like Alabama, that has that kind of, obviously, unparalleled success, this would be a great opportunity. He felt the same way, and I’m happy for him. I’m going to be happy for him, except for one weekend or if there’s implications of a tie or something.”

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea: “I was waiting for the Tommy Rees question… Tommy’s got great musical taste, OK. That’s first. And he’s a really competitive noon hoops player, which everyone needs to be aware of that before you step on the court with him, at least. No, Tommy’s a talented coach. He’s a talented person. He’s smart. I think he’s a great fit there with Coach Saban, and they’re gonna do a great job together. He’s young, and so he still maintains connection with the players, which I think is so important. He’s fiery. He’s intense.

“But the thing that he and I connected on most was just being smart in design. I mean, we spent a lot of time together, particularly when he was the quarterbacks coach. I would have him in my office all the time. I would be asking him questions and trying to get a better understanding of what the quarterback’s looking like and what impacts play at that position. And he loves the chess match, and not just him – I enjoyed his players. Ian Book, I’d have him in my office all the time and I’d be picking his brain. The guy knows how to coach, and so, I’m excited for him and I’m looking for him to have great success.”

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