Report: Alabama to focus on 2 candidates to replace Nick Saban

Alabama is in the process of searching for a new head football coach to replace Nick Saban.

The first name we heard associated with the vacancy was Dan Lanning. However, the Oregon coach indicated via social media Thursday that he would be staying with the Ducks. The Crimson Tide need to move on to other candidates now, and they are expected to focus on some big-name coaches.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel said Thursday that he expects Alabama to focus on pursuing Kalen DeBoer and Mike Norvell next.

Latest from ⁦@SportsCenter⁩ with ⁦@elleduncanESPN⁩ and ⁦@KevinNegandhi⁩ on the Alabama search. The expectation is for Washington’s Kalen DeBoer and Florida State’s Mike Norvell to emerge as focal points of the search. pic.twitter.com/X6ZDrzG4WB

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 12, 2024

DeBoer just completed his second season at Washington and took the Huskies to the national championship game. He has gone 25-3 in his two seasons at Washington. The 49-year-old from South Dakota went 9-3 in 2021 as the head coach at Fresno State. DeBoer also went 67-3 over five seasons at Sioux Falls. He led the team to three NAIA national championships.

Norvell has been at Florida State four seasons after previously coaching Memphis for four seasons. He went 38-16 at Memphis and he has gone 31-17 at FSU. The 42-year-old from Texas completely turned around the Seminoles and had them 13-0 this season before the team got snubbed by the College Football Playoff committee.

Would either coach find the possibility of moving to Alabama enticing? That’s probably what the Crimson Tide are trying to figure out. But Alabama just had arguably the best coach ever as their head football coach. So they are looking to the best head coaches in the current game as potential replacements.