{"id":186060,"date":"2023-01-14T01:08:04","date_gmt":"2023-01-14T01:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/possible-alabama-defensive-coordinator-candidates-after-pete-golding-exit\/"},"modified":"2023-01-14T01:08:04","modified_gmt":"2023-01-14T01:08:04","slug":"possible-alabama-defensive-coordinator-candidates-after-pete-golding-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/possible-alabama-defensive-coordinator-candidates-after-pete-golding-exit\/","title":{"rendered":"Possible Alabama defensive coordinator candidates after Pete Golding exit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The long-discussed departure of Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding is now a reality. After five years with the Crimson Tide, he’s headed west for the same job under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss.<\/p>\n

So, who next?<\/p>\n

Golding was the second-longest tenured defensive coordinator of the Nick Saban era with only Kirby Smart (2008-15) holding the job longer.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a preliminary look at who Saban could consider as the Crimson Tide defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

Glenn Schumann, Co-DC at Georgia<\/b><\/p>\n

The Alabama graduate (2011 and 2013) started as an undergraduate analyst in 2008, working up to the role of director of player development in 2015. That’s when Smart hired him to go to Georgia for his first on-field job as the middle linebackers coach in 2016. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in February 2019.<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old doesn’t have a bad job as part of a Bulldog program that’s won consecutive national titles with dominant defenses. A return to his alma mater where he isn’t a co-coordinator alongside Will Muschamp might be an attractive possibility.<\/p>\n

Schumann was the first name listed as one to watch by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic<\/a> after news of Golding’s departure broke.<\/p>\n

Todd Grantham, Alabama analyst<\/b><\/p>\n

A veteran who has been the defensive coordinator everywhere from the Cleveland Browns to Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State and Florida, Grantham is familiar with the job. He came to Alabama before last season as an analyst.<\/p>\n

Grantham was available because Dan Mullen fired him as the Gator DC late in the 2021 season. Mullen himself was canned a few weeks later.<\/p>\n

Geoff Collins, ex-Georgia Tech coach<\/b><\/p>\n

Fired by Georgia Tech midseason, Collins has a background with Alabama and Saban. Before getting an on-field job the following season, Collins was the director of player personnel at Alabama in 2007, Saban’s first season with the Crimson Tide.<\/p>\n

Collins went on to become a defensive coordinator at FIU (2010), Mississippi State (2011-14) and Florida (2015-16). He was hired as Temple’s head coach in 2017 before going to Georgia Tech in 2019. Fired after five games this season, Collins’ final record in Atlanta was 10-28.<\/p>\n

Jim Leonhard, ex-Wisconsin DC<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the hot names among defensive assistants, Leonhard was the DC at his alma mater from 2017 through last season. Wisconsin tapped him as the interim coach after firing Paul Chryst midseason as the Badgers went 5-3 on his watch.<\/p>\n

A popular pick to get the full-time gig, Leonhard ultimately didn’t get the call. After initially agreeing to stay on as DC when Luke Fickell was hired as head coach, Leonhard ultimately stepped down after the 2022 season ended. He was a 2017 finalist for the Broyles Award going to the nation’s top assistant coach.<\/p>\n

Freddie Roach, Alabama DL coach<\/b><\/p>\n

A former Crimson Tide player, Roach has been on the Saban staff a few times. He’s been the defensive line coach since 2020 after holding the same role at Ole Miss from 2017-19.<\/p>\n

Roach doesn’t have defensive coordinator\/play calling experience but he knows the Saban defense and the demands of working in the program.<\/p>\n

Jeremy Pruitt, former Tennessee coach\/Alabama DC<\/b><\/p>\n

This will be a popular name on social media and message boards but there’s a major issue standing in the way of a reunion. The NCAA investigation into his tenure in Knoxville remains unresolved and Pruitt could still face penalties that would make it impossible or Alabama to hire him.<\/p>\n

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter <\/i>@ByCasagrande<\/i><\/a> or ten <\/i>Facebook<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n