It appears early reports suggesting Nick Saban was preparing to promote Mike Locksley were accurate, Alabama has reportedly decided to promote from within and give the assistant coach more responsibility in 2018.

Locksley served as Alabama’s co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach last season. Now he faces a much more challenging responsibility on the Crimson Tide staff, helping Saban pick a quarterback for 2018. Locksley has been on the Tide staff since the 2016 season.

There was some speculation that former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze was in the running to be named Alabama’s next offensive coordinator. He still could have a role in the program moving forward as an assistant, but that remains to be seen.

ESPN college football insider Chris Low is reporting the news:

Prior to landing in Tuscaloosa, Locksley served as Maryland’s offensive coordinator and QB coach from 2012-15, serving a brief stint as the interim coach after the firing of Randy Edsall. Before coaching at Maryland, Locksley was the head coach of New Mexico from 2009-11.