Tag: Charles huff

Report: Robert Gillespie set to become new RB coach for Alabama

Alabama has found its replacement for Charles Huff. North Carolina’s Robert Gillespie is coming over to coach the RBs in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama continues to rebuild its coaching staff after a slew of departures. Of course, that’s part of winning a national championship, and Nick Saban has a fantastic track record of reloading the staff.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t a headache, however. But the good news is that it looks like the Crimson Tide have found a new running backs coach. According to Bruce Feldman with The Athletic, it will be Robert Gillespie from North Carolina.

The move was desperately needs after associate head coach/running backs coach Charles Huff left to take the head coaching gig at Marshall. He had been in Tuscaloosa for two seasons after coming over form Mississippi State.

Gillespie has done fantastic work for the Tar Heels. He spent three seasons in Chapel Hill, and the results were impressive. His first year was somewhat underwhelming, but look the stats for Michael Carter and Javonte Williams over the last two:

  • Carter: 2,248 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns
  • Javonte Williams: 2,073 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns

The two combined for 2,385 yards and 28 touchdowns in only 11 games in 2020, and they also added another 572 yards and five scores as receivers out of the backfield.

Prior to his time at North Carolina, Gillespie was at the University of Tennessee. There, he worked with running backs such as Alvin Kamara, Jalen Hurd and John Kelly.

Gillespie should be an excellent replacement for Huff.

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Charles Huff praises Nick Saban, Alabama

Charles Huff didn’t spend a lot of time in Tuscaloosa, but his time on Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s coaching staff

Charles Huff didn’t spend a lot of time in Tuscaloosa, but his time on Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s coaching staff the previous two seasons helped prepare him for his new position as head football coach at Marshall.

Huff, who was announced as Marshall’s new football coach on Wednesday, spoke about the many things he learned from Saban, per Garrett Stepien of 247Sports.

“Well, I think one of the many things — we could have a seven-hour press conference, and we’d probably only get through the first thing I learned,” Huff said.

“But I think what I’ve learned is the ability to sustain success, and the ability to sustain success is through consistency and approach, consistency and message, consistency and work ethic.”

Huff said he spoke to Saban about the Marshall job before accepting it and the Alabama coach spoke highly of Marshall and the state of West Virginia.

“Coach Saban loves this state,” Huff said. Saban grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia, and spent two seasons on West Virginia’s coaching staff early in his coaching career.

He bleeds West Virginia. He is a West Virginian. He doesn’t deny it. He’s actually proud of it. And the one thing he told me in our discussions before I left, he said, ‘That’s a very proud state.’

Saban clearly played a major role in Huff’s coaching career. Huff now takes over a solid program that was ranked in the top 25 at times in 2020.

Huff also sent out a final message to Saban, Alabama and all Alabama fans.

 

BREAKING: Alabama assistant Charles Huff named head coach at Marshall

The national champion Alabama Crimson Tide lost another member of their coaching staff on Saturday when Charles Huff took over at Marshall.

The national champion Alabama Crimson Tide lost another member of their coaching staff on Saturday when associate head coach and running backs coach Charles Huff was named the new head coach at Marshall.

The 37-year-old Huff had spent the previous two seasons with the Crimson Tide.

Huff, a Maryland native, played his college football at Hampton. He began his coaching career back in 2006 with Tennessee State. He also spent time at Maryland, Vanderbilt, Western Michigan, Penn State and Mississippi State.

He also spent one season in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills.

Huff becomes the second member of Alabama’s 2020 coaching staff to depart for a head-coaching job, following offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who took over at Texas.

Huff is the fourth staff member to depart, joining Sarkisian, special teams coach Jeff Banks and offensive line coach Kyle Flood. Banks and Flood followed Sarkisian to Texas.

247Sports named Huff the nation’s No. 1 recruiter in 2020.

He replaces Doc Holliday, who spent 11 seasons at Marshall, where he compiled a record of 85-54, and his contract was not renewed.

Marshall competes in Conference USA and spent time in the top 25 in 2020.

This is an outstanding opportunity for Huff, as Marshall is a consistent winner. In Holliday’s 11 seasons, he took the Thundering Herd to a bowl in eight of those seasons.

Updated list of 5 potential Alabama OC candidates to replace Steve Sarkisian

Alabama is in need of an offensive coordinator for the 2021 season, as Steve Sarkisian will be heading to Texas for their head coaching job.

Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will only hold onto that title for one more game, the College Football Playoff national championship, before officially becoming the head coach of the Texas Longhorns.

With Sarkisian gone, a void will be left in Nick Saban’s assistant coaching staff, not an unfamiliar feeling for the Crimson Tide coach.

Recruiting is key for the SEC Champions, and if Saban plans on hitting the trail hard in the offseason, it’s crucial to have an offensive coordinator named and on staff.

Immediately after the announcement of Sarkisian’s departure, Roll Tide Wire released five initial candidates for the job. Now, with rumors and reports beginning to surface, here are the current top five candidates for the job:

5 potential hires to fill Alabama’s offensive coordinator position

Alabama football is on the search for a new Offensive Coordinator for the 2021 season as Steve Sarkisian accepts the Texas head coaching job

With the news of Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian accepting the head coaching job at Texas, the Crimson Tide carousel of assistant coaches continues to spin.

Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Pete Golding are currently both in their second consecutive season with the team, which seems like a rarity, as most Alabama assistants are sought after by other programs across the country.

Recruiting players is not enough for head coach Nick Saban, he usually recruits assistants in the offseason, and that’s what he’ll likely have to do in order to find a new offensive play caller for the 2021 season.

Here are five potential candidates to replace Steve Sarkisian for the Crimson Tide offensive coordinator position:

Alabama’s Charles Huff becomes nation’s No. 1 CFB recruiter

With the commitment of 5 star defensive end Dallas Turner on Wednesday, Alabama’s Charles Huff officially became the nation’s No.1 recruiter

After the commitment of five-star defensive end Dallas Turner on Wednesday, Alabama running back coach, Charles Huff officially became the nation’s number one recruiter according to 247Sports.

Turner is commitment No. 2 of the week for Huff after Devonta Smith’s commitment on Monday.

Huff also has helped Alabama secure the commitments of five-star OT JC Latham, as we as five-star WR Jacorey Brooks.

According to 247Sports,

“Huff’s per commit ranking is 95.85, which is one of the highest in the country, as the Crimson Tide team as a whole possesses an average score of 94.04 between its 10 commitments.”

This is nothing short of impressive considering this is Huff’s first season with the Crimson Tide.

Huff comes to Tuscaloosa after one season as the assistant head coach, run-game coordinator and running backs coach at Mississippi State. Huff is also known for his recruitment and development of Saquon Barkley who became the highest drafted NFL running back since Reggie Bush.

His 15 years of coaching experience include time in the NFL, Penn State, Western Michigan, Maryland, Vanderbilt, and more.

Huff’s addition to the Alabama coaching staff has proven to be one of the best moves Nick Saban has made.

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