Alabama’s adjusted coaching staff is getting closer to completion.
On Monday, the Crimson Tide announced that New England Patriots tight ends coach Brian Daboll would indeed be the team’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, replacing Steve Sarkisian.
Daboll is the third offensive coordinator at Alabama since the start of 2017. Lane Kiffin left Alabama (or was fired, depending on your belief) following the Peach Bowl against Washington to coach Florida Atlantic. Though Daboll spent many years in the NFL, his early coaching years included a brief stint under Tide coach Nick Saban at Michigan State.
“I am honored to have the chance to return to the college game and work for Coach Saban at Alabama. He basically gave me my start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Michigan State in the late 1990s and has always been a very important influence on my coaching career, “ Daboll said in a statement. “It is a tremendous opportunity to work at an institution such as Alabama with its rich tradition and history of sustained success, and I’m very excited to get started.”
Additionally, Joe Pannunzio, the Philadelphia Eagles’ director of personnel operations, will be Alabama’s new special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. As such, he is the Tide’s second new assistant to come from the NFL.
Saban also announced Monday that Mike Locksley will serve as wide receivers coach in addition to his previously announced role as co-offensive coordinator.