WATCH: Nick Saban reflects on current coaching staff changes, Jalen Hurts’ transfer to Oklahoma

Nick Saban has been busy since Alabama’s national championship loss to Clemson.

Saban and Alabama have lost five on-field assistant coaches so far — Dan Enos (Miami), Mike Locksley (Maryland), Brent Key (Georgia Tech), Josh Gattis (Michigan) and Tosh Lupoi (Cleveland Browns), and the carnage may not be over yet.

Following their departures, Nick Saban has reportedly hired Steve Sarkisian for his OC, former Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood for his OL coach, Mississippi State’s Charles Huff for his RBs coach, Tennessee’s Charles Kelly as his DBs coach and Virginia Tech’s Solmon Wiggins as his WRs coach. Butch Jones is also reportedly sticking around at Alabama, too. That’s three former Power 5 head coaches (Sarkisian, Flood and Jones), and Kelly is a former DC at FSU.

So, needless to say between hiring coaches and recruiting players, Saban hasn’t had much free time at all. However, CBS 42’s Simone Eli caught up with Saban at the Montgomery ALFCA Convention. Among other topics, she asked him about the coaching turnover and Jalen Hurts’ transfer to Oklahoma.

On coaching changes:

“I think you’re always going to have changes,” Saban said. “You like to have continuity, but I think sometimes the changes bring a lot of positive energy, new energy, new ideas. And we’re looking forward to sort of rebuilding the program so that it’s what we want it to be. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’m excited about the people we’ve been able to attract to Alabama.”

On Jalen Hurts:

“I think this was the best thing for Jalen,” Saban said. “We have a great relationship, and I think he had several options as to what was the best path for him. And for him to go someplace and be able to play on a good team, I think, is probably the best thing for him and his future.

BREAKING: I spoke exclusively with #Alabama‘s Nick Saban tonight in Montgomery at the ALFCA Convention. I asked Saban about the event, staff changes including Dan Enos and Tosh Lupoi departure, Jalen Hurts, and having the top recruiting class after early period. #RollTide @CBS_42 pic.twitter.com/eqiewaX0ep

— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) January 25, 2019

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.