Coach hiring season is in full swing, and an Alabama coordinator is generating interest for multiple major openings. Hint: It's not the one with three prior head-coaching stops -- two in Power 5 conferences and one in the NFL.
Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is being mentioned as a top candidate at South Carolina and now at Georgia, where he played defensive back from 1995-98. There's little doubt Smart, who has been with Nick Saban since 2006, soon will be running his own shop.
The outlook is murkier for Lane Kiffin, Alabama's polarizing offensive coordinator. Kiffin, 40, has had head-coaching stints with the Oakland Raiders (2007-08), Tennessee (2009) and USC (2010-13), none of which ended particularly well. He has a 35-21 record at the college level and went 5-15 with the Raiders.
He has been undeniably successful with Alabama, which set a team record for passing yards average (277.9 YPG) in his first season. This fall, Alabama's offense has shown balance and steady production, propelled by running back Derrick Henry, the Heisman Trophy favorite entering the final week of voting.
The belief in coaching and agent circles is this will be Kiffin's final season on Alabama's staff. With a spike in coaching openings, could Kiffin receive a fourth chance to lead a program? Athletic directors at both the Power 5 and Group of 5 levels weighed in on Kiffin's chances.