New name emerges in Alabama offensive coordinator search

A new name has emerged in the search for Alabama’s next offensive coordinator.

Tommy Rees, who holds the same position at Notre Dame, is in conversation with Nick Saban, AL.com can confirm. ESPN was first to report on Thursday. A former Irish quarterback (2010-13) has been an assistant at South Bend since 2017 and was elevated to offensive co-ordinator in 2020. A reporter for The Athletic published a picture of the school plane from the Alabama at South Bend airport early Thursday afternoon.

Saban reportedly met with Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb on Tuesday, but he opted to stay with the Huskies.

AL.com also learned that former Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead was also contacted by Alabama earlier this week, but the current Akron head coach was not interested. to leave his post for the post. Moorhead was in Starkville from 2018 to 2019 with a 14-12 record, but was let go in early 2020.

RELATED: Alabama Athletics Hits Record Earnings, Surpasses SEC Peers

Notre Dame had the No. 60 offense nationally, averaging 396.2 yards per game while finishing with a 9-4 record.

Rees was reportedly offered the job as LSU’s offensive coordinator when Brian Kelly left Notre Dame at the end of 2021. He stayed at his alma mater, instead, as part of Marcus Freeman’s first team with the Irish.

“This is where my heart is,” Rees said during a Notre Dame team reunion in a video posted Dec. 1, 2021 by the program’s official Twitter account. “My heart is with you guys. I care about this place too much.

Bill O’Brien, offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, left Tuscaloosa to be offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots last month.

This post will be updated if new information becomes available.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.