RELATED: SEC assistants named Broyles award nominees

SEC assistants destined for head coaching positions

  • Lane Kiffin, Alabama (Offensive coordinator)
  • Robb Smith, Arkansas (Defensive coordinator)
  • Geoff Collins, Mississippi State (Defensive coordinator)
  • Kirby Smart, Alabama (Defensive coordinator)
  • Mike Bobo, Georgia (Offensive coordinator)

Lane Kiffin’s been an excellent addition to the Alabama coaching staff this season, helping the Crimson Tide ascend to new heights with a faster-paced, more dynamic offense. His play-calling ability’s led to terrific record-setting numbers from wideout Amari Cooper and a stellar senior campaign from first-year starter Blake Sims at quarterback. We know he’s been a head coach before and another team’s bound to hire the 39-year-old as its leading man again … Robb Smith, who worked last season as Greg Schiano’s linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Bucs, has come in and totally revamped the Razorbacks’ defense, leading one of the most fierce front sevens in the country. He’s an expert motivator and game planner, showcasing his expertise this season during shutout wins over LSU and Ole Miss along with great performances against Alabama and Mississippi State. One of the most undervalued assistant coaches in the country, Smith deserves finalist mention for the Broyles award … It’s only a matter of time before a program in need of an offensive mind scoops Mike Bobo at Georgia, arguably the SEC’s most under-appreciated coordinator this season. Oft-criticized by his own fanbase, Bobo’s approaching a record-setting season at 43.3 points per game, more than five points better than his offense’s previous mark set in 2012. He’s done it with a first-year starting quarterback and half a season from Heisman candidate tailback Todd Gurley. Bobo’s attention to the run game with Nick Chubb’s made the Bulldogs offense one of the SEC’s toughest to contain and has helped alleviate some of the pressure off the shoulders of Hutson Mason.