re: Official Alabama assistant coaching search thread: staff complete Edition

Alabama football: 5 things to know about Mike Locksley

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football is in search of its fourth offensive coordinator in the last three seasons.

After one season in Tuscaloosa, Brian Daboll opted to return to the NFL for the offensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills. That leaves the Crimson Tide to find a new man to led what could be an explosive offense in 2018.

One of the easy choices seems to be Mike Locksley. Here are five things to know about Locksley.

He’s already on staff

Locksley is on staff and has a rapport with the current players. Locksley served as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach this season.

The players love Locksley. He was the one who helped Daboll make the transition from the professional ranks in terms of coaching quarterbacks and incorporating read-option concepts.

He has offensive coordinator experience

During his time as Maryland’s offensive coordinator, the Terrapins produced balanced and effective results. The 2013 offense eclipsed 5,000 yards of total offense for only the fourth time in program history, while accounting for 3,231 yards passing (third most all-time). In Maryland’s debut season in the Big Ten, the offense averaged the most points in the past four seasons.

A veteran coach with over 20 years of experience, Locksley also served as the offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois from 2005-08. The Illini went from No. 72 nationally in total offense in 2005 to 19th following the 2008 season. They led the Big Ten in rushing in 2006 and 2007 and then led the league in passing in 2008.

He’s coached every part of offense

Along with being a coordinator and working with quarterbacks, Locksley spent this season as Alabama’s wide receivers coach. He’s coached every position on offense at this point.

Locksley spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons at the University of Florida as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. His first stint at Maryland came from 1997-2002 when he coached the running backs and coordinated recruiting.

He has head coaching experience

This could be key from an administrative standpoint as Locksley knows what it takes to run a program.

Before coming to Alabama in 2016, Locksley previously served as the interim head coach at the University of Maryland for the final six games of the 2015 season. Prior to that he served as the Terrapins offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2012-15. Locksley also served as the head coach at the University of New Mexico from 2009-11.

He seems to have the support of the players

At least two returning members for Alabama’s 2018 team voiced support of Locksley being Alabama’s next offensive coordinator.

Running backs Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs both took to Twitter to promote Locksley as the next coordinator.

Harris shocked many with his decision to return to school for his senior year. He’ll be a big part of the team’s offensive game plan as well as the leadership. Jacobs, who battled injuries all year, could have a breakout season as a junior if he’s able to stay healthy.

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Apologies didn’t see this thread.

Alabama offensive coordinator candidates to watch | al.com

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Once again, Alabama is in the market for a new offensive coordinator. This is the third such search since Lane Kiffin took the FAU head job officially began Sunday afternoon with Brian Daboll going to the Buffalo Bills.

That leaves Nick Saban needing to hire both an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator a week after winning a national championship.

So, who will be the fourth Alabama offensive coordinator in the last 13 months? We have a list of candidates worth exploring for the Crimson Tide.

Mike Locksley, Alabama WR coach

The former New Mexico head coach is the early favorite for the job. He brings continuity to the quarterback situation after spending last year coaching the receivers and the year before that as an Alabama offensive analyst.

Locksley has offensive coordinator experience at Illinois (2005-08) and Maryland (2012-15). He was also the interim head coach of the Terps after Randy Edsall was fired. Saban has not promoted from within for the offensive coordinator job except for last year when Steve Sarkisian was bumped up from offensive analyst to coordinator before the Peach Bowl.

Several former and current Alabama players voiced their support for Locksley's promotion Sunday on social media.

George Godsey, Detroit Lions assistant

The former Houston Texans offensive coordinator was a candidate for the Alabama OC job when Daboll was ultimately hired a year ago. He went to the Detroit Lions instead as a defensive assistant in charge of special projects. Godsey coached three seasons under Bill Belichick with the Patriots, so working for Saban wouldn't be such a shock to the system.

Dan Enos, Michigan WR coach

The former Arkansas offensive coordinator's name has been mentioned with Alabama openings in the past. He recently was hired by Michigan as the receivers coach, though a coordinator role is possible, according to the Detroit Free Press. He's getting paid $150,000 a year for the first season, the Free Press but would get bumped to at least $750,000 with a coordinator title.

Jedd Fisch, former UCLA offensive coordinator

Like Godsey, Fisch was a candidate for the job last year when Daboll was hired. He had a job as the UCLA offensive coordinator leading QB Josh Rosen at the time. Now, he's currently a free agent. Fisch has been an offensive coordinator all but one year since 2009 with Minnesota, Miami Hurricanes, Jacksonville Jaguars, Michigan and UCLA.

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Notre Dame Football: Chip Long Rumored To Be Next Offensive Coordinator At Alabama

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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish appear to be getting poached by the SEC once again. There is a very serious and very likely rumor floating around the internet that Notre Dame's offensive coordinator, Chip Long, will take the same job under Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Brandon Kamerman @B_Kamerman
Keep an eye on Notre Dame OC Chip Long for the Alabama vacancy. He’s from Birmingham and played at North Alabama. #RollTide
10:02 PM - Jan 14, 2018

This rumor is running rampant on Alabama message boards with some posters claiming that this is a done deal. How much validity you want to take from these "sources" is up to you, but if you're an Alabama fan right now, you're probably sold on Chip Long moving to Tuscaloosa.

After the Mike Elko departure, and the possibility of both Brian Polian and Clark Lea following him to coach for the Texas A&M Aggies, I made a slight joke about Chip Long's employment:

One Foot Down @OneFootDown
So nobody came after Chip Long? Is that what you’re telling me?
1:53 PM - Jan 5, 2018

It's not so funny now.

Alabama's offensive coordinator in 2017 was Brian Daboll. Daboll is leaving the Tide after only one year to become the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. Before Daboll, it was Lane Kiffin that coordinated the Tide offense.

Regardless of the opinions of some Notre Dame fans, Chip Long is a rising star in the coaching world and is looked at in a very favorable light. After averaging 39 points per game with the Memphis Tigers in 2016, Long ran an offense at Notre Dame that averaged 34 points a game against the nation's second toughest schedule. It also saw a resurgence in the Irish running game that we haven't seen since the 90's.

Not only is Long an attractive option for the Crimson Tide, he has regional ties as well. Long is from Birmingham, Alabama and played football at North Alabama.

It's very easy to create a very big connection to Alabama for Long, but these are still rumors for the moment. Is Long a more attractive hire for Nick Saban - or perhaps Matt Canada would be preferred? While some would state that this is a lateral move for Long, let's get real. Alabama just won a national championship and is on one of the greatest dynastic runs in college football history. This is a step up.

For Notre Dame fans, all we can really do is wait and see what Nick Saban's and Alabama's next move is on this front. Ugh!

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Their offense looked like arse against UGA and LSU.

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I don't know all the specifics, but I do know they had a QB who could not throw that derailed quite a bit of things.

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they had a QB who could not throw that derailed quite a bit of things.

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This. Checking their message boards last night regarding Chip Long, this was a common theme

Not so easy to run the ball against some of these SEC teams when you cannot throw the ball. Saban pretty much said that at half time of Natl Champ game

I wouldn’t judge him on his short time at Notre Dame.

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Gene Chizik as the DC would be icing on the cake.

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Yes, his completely different defensive scheme would mesh well.

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Yes, his completely different defensive scheme would mesh well.

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Because no incoming DC has ever had to adapt to the head coach's preferred defensive scheme before, am I right?