5 Alabama offensive coordinator candidates who make sense to replace Ryan Grubb

In an odd turn of events, new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s offensive coordinator has left the Crimson Tide before coaching a single game in Tuscaloosa. Ryan Grubb, who had followed DeBoer to UA when the former Washington head coach took over after Nick Saban retired, has taken the same job with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks according to multiple reports.

The move leaves the Tide with another opening on staff. As DeBoer looks to fill it, here are candidates that would make sense for the job.

Kirby Moore

The familiarity is there. Moore worked at Fresno State with DeBoer, taking over as offensive coordinator after DeBoer left for Washington.

The in-conference experience is also obvious. Moore took over the playcalling and offensive coordinator job at Missouri and helped the Tigers to a massive improvement last year.

At least based on recruiting star power, Moore would have more to work with at Alabama. He’s also thought to be a rising future head coach, and a successful stint with the Crimson Tide would be good for his resume.

JaMarcus Shephard

If DeBoer wants to use the open coach slot for something else, or just wants to make a promotion and hire a new position coach, Shephard could be an option. Alabama’s wide receivers coach has worked under DeBoer for two years at Washington.

Shephard’s wideouts were excellent in 2023. Rome Adunze went for 1,640 yards to lead the team in receiving, and the Husky passing attack was one of the nation’s best.

Shephard has never been an offensive coordinator. However, he has been around DeBoer long enough to understand the system, and if DeBoer wants to keep the job in-house, Shephard would make a lot of sense.

Nick Sheridan

Sheridan came over with DeBoer from Washington and would make sense as another internal candidate. He coaches tight ends currently for the Crimson Tide.

He was with DeBoer even before the Huskies. Sheridan was tight ends coach at Indiana under DeBoer, having previously served as the Hoosier QB coach.

He also has experience in the job. When DeBoer left to take the head job at Fresno State, Sheridan was promoted and served as Indiana’s offensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021.

Scott Huff

Perhaps thinking more outside of the box, though still promoting from within, Huff is another former Washington coach who could make sense.

He had been with the Huskies well before DeBoer’s tenure. However, he quickly came along for the ride once his boss took the job in Tuscaloosa.

Huff also has a similar position coaching history to Grubb, who was an offensive line coach before he was an offensive coordinator. That would make him a logical option if DeBoer wants to keep the search short and sweet.

Kalen DeBoer

DeBoer is an offensive coach. Alabama’s system is his, and if he wanted to call his own plays, the head coach is certainly capable.

In that situation, he’d likely have someone else with the offensive coordinator title. An internal candidate would make the most sense, perhaps some combination of Shephard, Sheridan or Huff.

But DeBoer holding onto more of the power would make sense. After all, he’ll be the one getting the lion’s share of the blame as Nick Saban’s replacement should the Crimson Tide struggle in 2024.