Report: SEC could block Alabama from hiring Hugh Freeze

Alabama is searching for a new offensive coordinator now that Brian Daboll has been hired by the Buffalo Bills, and the biggest name we have heard linked to the job is that of former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze. However, Nick Saban may not be able to hire Freeze even if he wants to.

Aaron Suttles of The Tuscaloosa News reported on Wednesday that Saban is “really pushing” to add Freeze to his staff, but others in the program have been against the idea. While Saban would likely be able to overrule anyone at Alabama that doesn’t want Freeze, he may have trouble convincing the SEC to allow it to happen.

“How much autonomy Saban has in this particular situation is unknown given Freeze’s recent history with the NCAA,” Suttles wrote. “Another aspect to this is that should Alabama decided to hire Freeze as an on-the-field coach, it would likely need the blessing of SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Sankey isn’t keen on that happening, The Tuscaloosa News has learned.”

Freeze has not landed another coaching job since he left Ole Miss amid a scandal over escorts and NCAA violations, and he would need to serve a two-game suspension if he became the head coach of another program. That suspension would not apply if he took a coordinator or assistant coaching job, but that doesn’t mean the SEC has to approve the hire.

You can understand why Saban wants to hire Freeze, as Freeze enjoyed great success at Ole Miss and was one of the few coaches who managed to get the best of the Tide. How much Saban is willing to go to bat for Freeze if the SEC opposes him remains to be seen.