Nick Saban has been able to generate buzz on the field and off the field since joining the Crimson Tide program as head coach in 2007. Both coaches and recruits alike come to Alabama with similar goals: to win and boost their respective careers.
Over the years, I think it is safe to say that Saban has fulfilled those wishes and more. Several of Coach Saban’s assistants have moved elsewhere to take on different roles as coaches. The Alabama football program has become accustomed to rebuilding its staff occasionally because of assistants being hired to larger roles for different collegiate programs across the country.
Today, Roll Tide Wire will look at some of Saban’s former assistant coaches that were on staff at Alabama and are currently head coaches for different collegiate programs across the country. Read along to find out how much success Saban has truly had developing his coaches from coordinators to head coaches of prestigious programs across the college football landscape.
Kirby Smart – Georgia
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Kirby Smart has always had ties to the University of Georgia. He played for the Bulldogs from 1995 to 1998 as a defensive back. However, his coaching success and recruiting prowess truly evolved in his assistant role under Coach Saban. Smart served as Alabama’s defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2015 and had plenty of success. He was then able to receive an offer to become the head football coach at Georgia, which he accepted. Since then, Smart holds a 66-15 record with one national championship from this past season.
Charles Huff – Marshall
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It took Huff fifteen years in total to become a head coach, but it finally happened. After serving in a variety of different roles at several different programs, Huff was added to the Tide’s coaching staff in 2019 as the team’s running backs coach. In one season, he was able to garner enough attention to become a head coach. Marshall signed Huff to a four-year contract to be the program’s next head coach. Since becoming the head coach for the Thundering Herd this past season, he has attained a 7-6 record.
Mario Cristobal – Miami
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Alabama fans remember Cristobal for his high level of recruiting and his ability to get the best out of his offensive line group. The Miami alumnus coached with the Tide from 2013 to 2016 as the team’s offensive line coach. Moreover, he served as…