Friday, January 05, 2007

Assistant Coach News & Notes

UPDATE: It looks like Jimbo Fisher is headed to Tally. No one is reporting it officially, but that's the word on the street.

-Georgia continues to look for a new offensive line coach after Neil Calloway left to become the head coach at UAB. Rumors have circulated about a number of candidates, Brad Scott, Art Kehoe, and even Jeff Bowden. Add another name to the list. LSU offensive line coach Stacy Searles, a Georgia native, has reportedly interviewed for the UGA spot. I've also seen at least one report that if Jimbo Fisher (more on him below) goes to Alabama, the Searles will follow him to the Capstone.

-Nick Saban has already made at least one great hire for his new Alabama coaching staff. It is widely anticipated that FSU linebacker coach Kevin Steele will be named Saban's defensive coordinator. Steele has been a rising star for several years. There are also reports that Saban has hired former LSU and Georgia assistant Kirby Smart as his defensive backs coach.

-Florida State has hired West Virginia's Rick Trickett as their new offensive line coach. Trickett has done a great job at WVU over the past seven seasons and hopes to shore up a FSU line that was criticized for being soft in recent years.

-Jimbo Fisher, the big fish of assistant coaches right now, looks like he is down to two options if he leaves LSU. He can go be the OC at FSU or join Nick Saban's staff in Alabama. I think he picks Bama. Nick Saban is a defensive coach and is likely to give Jimbo free reign on the offensive side of the ball. Plus, Alabama can evidently afford to pay Jimbo the big bucks that he is earning at LSU. Opinions vary in Florida.