It didn’t take long for Nick Saban to tangle with Lane Kiffin in the SEC West long before an on-field matchup.

The Alabama coach has reportedly gone after Kiffin’s coaching staff, as Matt Zenitz of AL.com reported.

“Sources: Alabama defensive line coach Brian Baker is expected to move to an off-field role.
Have been told Freddie Roach is the name to keep an eye on for that defensive line job. Have heard he’s expected to be in Tuscaloosa today.”

FootballScoop also reported that there’s a, “good possibility this gets done.”

At Ole Miss, Roach holds the titles of assistant head coach, defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.
Roach joined the Ole Miss staff in 2017 after he served as Director of Player Development at Alabama, his alma mater, in 2015 and ’16. Kiffin was Alabama’s offensive coordinator during those two seasons.

Roach elected to stay at Ole Miss even after interest from the New York Giants and new coach Joe Judge, according to Giants Wire.

Roach previously coached at South Alabama, Murray State and East Mississippi Community College.

As a player, Roach was a four-year letterman at linebacker for the Crimson Tide from 2002-05, during which time he was named the National Freshman of the Year, a freshman All-American, was twice selected second team All-SEC and named to Alabama’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s. He signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots in 2006.