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Brad Bohannon - Auburn assistant

Kentucky assistant (2004-15). Wake Forest assistant (2002-03). Baseball America’s 2015 assistant coach of the year.

Bohannon is a veteran SEC assistant who will be in his sixth NCAA tournament this season. He may have a relationship with Byrne from a brief period where their tenures at Kentucky overlapped. He’s a strong recruiter and well-respected around baseball circles.

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Scott Brown - Vanderbilt assistant

Resume highlights: Vanderbilt pitching coach (2013-present), St. John’s pitching coach (2004-12)

He helped Vanderbilt win a national championship in his second year, and the Commodores were College World Series runners-up in 2014. Vanderbilt is an annual contender in the SEC and St. John’s was a strong performer in the Big East during his tenure there. The Red Storm made the NCAA tournament seven times in nine years when he was an assistant, but have otherwise made it just once since 1997. Vanderbilt has different opportunities and strengths in recruiting than Alabama but Brown has earned his keep in Nashville.

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Mark Calvi - South Alabama head coach

esume highlights: NCAA regional in 2013 and 2016 with the Jaguars. South Carolina pitching coach (2005-10), including an NCAA championships in 2010.

It was a little bit of a surprise that Calvi wasn’t a more serious candidate last time around. South Alabama could earn another NCAA bid this season, but he made his name at South Carolina. The Gamecocks were a powerhouse during his tenure with one of the league’s best pitching staffs. South Carolina also won a national championship in 2011 and were runners-up in 2012 thanks in part to players he recruited or developed.

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Alan Dunn - LSU assistant

Resume highlights: LSU pitching coach (2012-present), Baltimore Orioles bullpen coach (2007-10), Orioles pitching coordinator (2011), Chicago Cubs minor league coach/coordinator (1993-2007), Vanderbilt assistant (1991-92)

The only Alabama alumni on this list might have ended up in Tuscaloosa last time around, but it was more likely to be as an assistant in a package with another head coach. He has major league experience as a player and coach. His LSU pitchers have major league pedigree as well; 14 have been drafted in five years. LSU has made the NCAA tournament every year he’s been in Baton Rouge and reached Omaha twice.

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Gary Gilmore - Coastal Carolina head coach

Resume highlights: Coastal Carolina head coach (1996-present) with 2016 national championship, USC Aiken head coach (1990-95), including College World Series appearance in 1993.

If you want to aim big, how about the guy who won last year’s national championship? Gilmore will be hard to pull away from his alma mater, but he’s amassed a staggering record in 22 seasons there. The Chanticleers have made 14 of the last 16 NCAA tournaments. Expect his name to be connected with other major-conference openings as well.

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Jay Johnson - Arizona head coach

Resume highlights: Arizona head coach (2016-present), Nevada head coach (2014-15), San Diego assistant (2006-13)

Johnson has the most direct tie to Byrne on this list, because Alabama’s athletics director hired him at Arizona. He took the Wildcats to the final game in the College World Series in his first year before falling short of a championship. His entire career has been on the West Coast and recruiting the southeast may be a challenge, but he’s proven that he can win.

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Nick Mingione - Kentucky head coach

Resume highlights: Kentucky head coach (2017-present), Mississippi State assistant coach/recruiting coordinator (2009-16), Western Carolina assistant coach/recruiting coordinator (2008), Kentucky assistant (2006-07)

Byrne and Mingione spent time at Mississippi State together from 2009-10. The Wildcats have been a surprise in Mingione’s first year, finishing third in the conference after missing the NCAA tournament last season. He is believed to love Lexington and UK broke ground on a new $49 million baseball stadium in March, but his $375,000 salary might make him a possibility.

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Other names:

Scott Berry (Southern Miss head coach) – He’s not a young up-and-comer, but Berry has been more than solid in eight years in Hattiesburg. He’s never had a losing record never finished worse than third in the conference. This year might be his best coaching job yet. The Golden Eagles are 44-13 and ranked in every major poll.

Casey Dunn (Samford head coach) – Dunn wasn’t a finalist a year ago but there was some support. It seems unlikely there will be much momentum for him this time but don’t totally rule it out.

Cliff Godwin (East Carolina head coach) – Bill Battle confirmed that Godwin was among his finalists last year, and there was strong interest from both sides. Byrne is his own man and this is his search, but Godwin has SEC experience as an assistant and took ECU to a Super Regional last season.

Bobby Pierce (former Troy head coach) – Troy hasn’t dominated the Sun Belt during Pierce’s tenure but he’s been very consistent and made four NCAA tournaments. Pierce is a former UA player and assistant coach. He may have reached out to Alabama about the position last year, but was not a finalist.

A couple of these are long shots, or just ridiculous. Gilmore isn't leaving Coast Carolina. And Pierce is retired. He was the favorite for the job in 1994. If that tells you anything.

My personal favorite is Cliff Godwin, but I have a hard time seeing him leave his alma mater. Especially after being shafted by Battle on salary the last time around.

I think it will be a coach with head coaching experience. Someone connected to the SEC, especially the John Cohen coaching tree.

LINK

This post was edited on 6/24/17 at 12:58 am