A week ago, Alabama football needed a few assistants and a defensive coordinator. As of Tuesday morning, there’s only one name officially listed on the Tide athletics website under “2024 Football Coaching Staff”: head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Nick Saban’s retirement thrust a coaching carousel into motion, moving many coaches across the country to new schools. In Tuscaloosa, the transition, and DeBoer’s first staff, is nearly complete with the addition of South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack as defensive coordinator.

DeBoer’s staff hasn’t come together cleanly — it’s dragged past the “24-hour” timeline given at his introductory presser on Jan. 13. — but its rumored composition has the balance of DeBoer’s prior connections and those with Alabama roots.

Here’s who is rumored to join DeBoer and start the next era of a dynasty.

Offense

Coordinator – Ryan Grubb (Washington)

Offensive line – Scott Huff (Washington)

Wide receivers – JaMarcus Shephard (Washington)

Tight ends – Nick Sheridan (Washington)

Running backs – Robert Gillespie (Alabama)

Quarterbacks – TBD

The key trend here is, like throughout DeBoer’s career, he’s brought over his past connections forged during his time in South Dakota, Indiana and the West Coast. A bright offensive mind, DeBoer led the Huskies to one of the most dynamic passing attacks in the sport. A key part of that is Grubb, who stated his interest in replacing DeBoer in Washington but instead will likely take a role he interviewed with Nick Saban for a year ago. It’s also common for a coordinator to double as quarterback coach, so Grubb could add a secondary title.

Defense

Coordinator – Kane Wommack (South Alabama)

Defensive line – Freddie Roach (Alabama)

Inside linebackers -TBD

Outside linebackers – TBD

Defensive backs – TBD

Safties – TBD

Special teams – TBD

The biggest question mark for DeBoer’s staff was clear: Who’d run his defense that was already losing multiple high-level starters and transfers? After an extended flirtation with former secondary coach Travaris Robinson, DeBoer dipped back into his contact list and found an established Group of 5 coach in South Alabama’s Kane Wommack. Wommack’s 4-2-5 formation should play fast in the SEC, and he also brings vital recruiting ties in the Mobile area.

Support

General manager – Courtney Morgan (Washington)

Director of scouting – Jerret McElwain (Washington)

Director of sports medicine – Jeff Allen (Alabama)

Director of sports performance – David Ballou (Alabama)

Football chief operating officer – Ellis Ponder (Alabama)

The unsung heroes of any program, support staffers are crucial to the work that isn’t seen on game days. Longtime trainer Jeff Allen, who had a close relationship with Saban, is a textbook example. Ballau has been with Alabama since 2020 and has helped continue UA’s “Fourth-Quarter” offseason training program. Morgan has already made an impact, extending offers to former Washington commits in the class of 2025.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].