Alabama football is used to having its assistants leave for other coaching opportunities at the collegiate or NFL level.

It comes with the status of being selected for a role on Nick Saban’s staff as well as any success a coach may have while he’s in Tuscaloosa. And while he may not have the latter, some national reporters have noted Tommy Rees may be the next staffer to move up the ranks.

Both ESPN senior writer Adam Rittenberg and The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman mentioned Rees as a name to watch for Northwestern’s head coaching vacancy on Tuesday. In February, UA and Rees agreed to a three-year contract that will pay Rees $1.9 million in 2023, $2 million in 2024 and $2.1 million in the final year of the deal.

Among the turmoil of Pat Fitzgerald’s initial suspension and Monday firing as a result of a hazing scandal, defensive coordinator David Braun is expected to be the Wildcats’ interim coach in 2023. The college head coaching carousel seems to start turning earlier each fall though, and Northwestern may be looking for a long-term solution in November.

Feldman wrote: “Another Power 5 OC we think will be on Northwestern’s radar is new Bama offensive coordinator Rees… (He) knows plenty about what it’s like to work in a high academic program, having quarterbacked and then coached at Notre Dame. That would be a big plus. At 31, Rees is still exceptionally young, and his time under Nick Saban only figures to help his career down the road.”

Rees grew up in Illinois and attended Lake Forest High, about a 30-minute drive north of Northwesteren’s campus. After 23 wins as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback, Rees joined Fitzgerald as an offensive graduate assistant. Rees would return to his alma mater in 2020 for a three-season stint as offensive coordinator.

Rees has already made an impact in his short time with the Tide. His relationship with former Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner contributed to Buchner’s transfer announcement in April. Rees is expected to guide either Buchner, Jalen Milroe or Ty Simpson along with a set of talented skill position players to a more consistent offense this fall.

Should Rees depart, he’d join Major Applewhite (2007), Brian Daboll (2017) and Mike Locksley (2018) as offensive coordinators that spent one year under Saban in Tuscaloosa. Steve Sarkisian was the last OC to leave for a college gig, leaving to helm Texas in 2021.

Other potential candidates included by ESPN and Northwestern were New York Giants offensive coordinator and NU quarterback Mike Kafka, former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chrsyt and current Duke head coach Mike Elko.

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