Nick Saban is focused on that Our lady Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as a top target to play the same role Alabama, according to multiple reports. Rees meets Saban in Tuscaloosa on Thursday.
Saban is seeking a new play-caller after Bill O’Brien left the program for the same job with the New England Patriots this offseason, although O’Brien was not expected to be retained either way. Saban is looking for a fifth offensive coordinator since Lane Kiffin became FAU coach ahead of the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship.
At 30, Rees would be Saban’s youngest coordinator since Will Muschamp held the position LSU in 2002. Rees was Notre Dame’s quarterbacks coach under former coach Brian Kelly from 2017 to 2019 and assumed the role of offensive coordinator in 2020. In 2016, Rees was an offensive staffer for the San Diego Chargers.
The Fighting Irish offense thrived under Rees ahead of a 2022 season hampered by an injury to starting quarterback Tyler Buchner in Week 2. In the other two years under Rees, the Irish averaged at least six yards per play. Last year, Rees oversaw an offensive switch from Buchner to Drew Pyne as quarterback while focusing on a ground-based approach.
The news that Rees is being targeted by Saban comes just two days after Washington’s offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb reportedly turned down the job back to the huskies. Grubb helped quarterback Michael Penix Jr. become the nation’s top passer at 357 yards per game last season.
