Want to be Nick Saban's next defensive coordinator at Alabama? Here's how to apply | Goodbread
Help wanted: Assistant football coach.
Title: Defensive coordinator.
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Company description: The University of Alabama football program has won the Southeastern Conference Championship Game in six of the last nine years and seeks candidate to help facilitate return to championship status.
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Job requirements: The successful candidate must quickly establish excellence in three critical areas − run defense, red zone, and recruiting. Run defense: This aspect of the job will require immediate improvement. Previous coordinator's run defense slipped from No. 4 in the nation in 2021 to No. 36 in 2022, allowing 130.4 yards per game. In losses to Tennessee and LSU, run defense allowed a combined 367 rushing yards on 73 attempts, more than 5 yards per carry. A return to dominant play in the interior gaps, in particular, must be emphasized. Red zone: The successful candidate will show marked improvement in this aspect as well, particularly by calling a defense that allows fewer red zone touchdowns. Job demands an acute recognition that with scoring on the climb in college football, the value of three points has fallen. As such, forcing more field goal attempts in the red zone is a base requirement. Previous defenses allowed a score of some kind on 85% of opposing red-zone chances in 2021, and 77% in 2022. Recruiting: Coordinator responsibilities in this area are more extensive than at many other programs, and the outgoing employee was very effective at it. An acute ability to identify elite talent in either the camp or high school setting, and relate well to prospects, their high school coaches, and their families, is a pre-requisite. Adeptness at closing the sale in the most competitive recruiting landscape in the sport (the Southeastern Conference) is a must.
Expectations: Restore to greatness a proud defensive reputation that has slipped of late. Engender enthusiasm with effective motivational skills.
Compensation: Salary negotiable based on experience, or commensurate with previous coordinator ($1.6 million per year). Standard bonuses apply; no overtime.
Career development: Work as direct understudy to college football's most accomplished head coach, with whom all defensive schemes and techniques must philosophically align. If you're looking to re-invent the defensive wheel, this job is not for you.
Work surroundings: Take advantage of state of the art facilities and supportive administration, while overseeing several position coaches plus a small army of support staffers who might soon be approved by NCAA Football Oversight Committee for on-field work in practices.
Travel: Extensive.
Hours: Not at all flexible.
Perks: Work with youngsters in an enthusiastic team environment. Spend an extended part of each day outdoors in (usually) excellent weather. Full relocation package available immediately. Powerpoint and Excel skills not required.
If interested, send resume to Nick.Saban@BacktotheCFP.com. Thin-skinned applicants need not apply.
Reach Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's next D-coordinator under Nick Saban? Apply today!
