So, Lane Kiffin has officially moved on from the University of Alabama. His new destination? Florida Atlantic University. That’s right boys and girls, Joey Freshwater is now Joey Saltwater! Watch out Boca Raton, Ol Joey has traded in the visor for one of those giant shade hats and is on the prowl!
Now listen, I’m not here to talk about the hilarity of Lane Kiffin running wild in Boca Raton (Although I completely could. Could you imagine that? That would be an insane reality show. There’s no way Joey Saltwater doesn’t end up on a Girls Gone Wild video like Snoop Dogg. Is Girls Gone Wild even still a thing?). I’m here to discuss who will take the reins when Kiffin heads out. Reportedly, he will finish the playoff with the Tide, but look for Saban to begin the search now and possibly name the successor sooner rather than later. Who will it be?
Let’s discuss some names being floated around and the likelihood of each.
Let’s get a few out of the way first: Chad Morris isn’t leaving SMU to be an OC. That’s wishful thinking. Stop it. I also have a hard time believing Saban could get Lincoln Riley to leave Oklahoma. Joe Moorhead isn’t leaving Penn State for anything less than a head coaching job. Instead, I’ll list the most likely candidates for the job that would accept it.
Mark Helfrich – A name that essentially vanished after being fired from Oregon, Helfrich would be happy to get a high-profile OC job. It would be a similar story that landed Kiffin in Tuscaloosa. Would Helfrich fit the system? With an emerging Jalen Hurts, Helfrich could excel at developing the young dual-threat QB. Hurts could be Marcus Mariota 2.0, thriving in a no-huddle offense. I think this one is a bit of a stretch, but could pay huge dividends.
Kirk Ciarrocca – This one might be my favorite possibility that isn’t getting much attention. Ciarrocca is currently the OC of the Western Michigan Broncos, the only other undefeated FBS team. While much of the credit for the success lands with PJ Fleck (and rightly so), Ciarrocca has completely rejuvenated the Broncos offense. In three seasons, he’s made Western Michigan into a well-oiled machine with the football.
Matt Canada – By the time you read this, the Pittsburg OC might already be announced as the newest member of Orgeron’s staff at LSU. It’s a safe bet that Canada is ready for a major OC job, as he’s found success in every job leading to Pitt. In his first year with the Panthers, Canada has Pitt scoring points at a record high, while upsetting Penn State and Michigan. If things fall through at LSU, he’s definitely worth an interview.
Mike Locksley – Reports are surfacing that Saban would look in-house for his next OC. Mike Locksley currently serves as an offensive analyst for the Crimson Tide, and has the experience as an OC and HC. Unfortunately for Locksley, he doesn’t have a successful resume for the offensive side of the ball.
Billy Napier – The Tide’s WR coach, Napier has been around Tuscaloosa since 2011. After joining Jim McElwain in Colorado State for a year, Napier returned to Alabama to work under Kiffin. A former Clemson OC, Napier has the experience for the job, while having the knowledge of the system, and most importantly, “The Process.” Saban already being comfortable with Napier could work in his favor and land him the OC title. A lot of people in the program would be thrilled.
Steve Sarkisian – Probably the biggest name in the conversation, Sarkisian is currently serving as an offensive analyst for Alabama. After his public firing form USC for alcoholism, Sarkisian found a spot with Saban. Most assumed that Sarkisian was the automatic successor for Kiffin, and was brought in specifically for this moment. It seems, however, that his chances are starting to slip away. Some rumors out of Tuscaloosa have Sarkisian as a long shot for the OC gig. He has also been linked to the LSU vacancy alongside Matt Canada. There’s also talk of Sarkisian joining Kiffin at FAU. While some thought of him as a lock for OC, he seems like a wild card now.
If I had to bet, I’d say Billy Napier gets the job. We’ll see what happens. No matter what – remember, Poppa Bear loves ya.
Poppa Bear is the lead SEC contributor for the SoBros Network, and serves as our resident expert on the human anatomy, fixin’ stuff, and tomatoes. Follow on Twitter: @SoBroPoppaBear
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