Success in athletics has always been a staple at Alabama, and whichever sport it is, fans of the Crimson Tide expect consistent achievements. Here is how each Alabama head coach have performed in their tenure.
Nate Oats, men’s basketball, sixth year
Job performance: A+
Since his hiring in 2019, Oats has elevated this program to levels it has never seen before. Alabama is now coming off back-to-back seasons of making the Elite Eight, which hasn’t been done before in school history.
Oats also took Alabama to the Final Four in 2024 and was the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2023, both firsts in program history. The former math teacher turned elite college coach has brought unprecedented success to Tuscaloosa, and the only worry is if some other program will try to poach him.
Rob Vaughn, baseball, second year
Job performance: A
It has been a quick rise for Vaughn, who had his first head coaching job at Maryland in 2018 when he was just 31 years old and was hired by the Crimson Tide in 2023.
This season has put Vaughn in the conversation as one of the best coaches in college baseball, with his team currently sitting at 26-4 and No. 8 in the country after being unranked in the preseason.
Vaughn has quickly turned Alabama into one of the best teams in the country. Athletic director Greg Byrne will need to keep Vaughn by any means necessary when other teams inevitably come calling.
Jay Seawell, men’s golf, 23rd year
Job performance: A
Seawell turned Alabama golf into a consistent powerhouse. His Crimson Tide teams have won two national championships and finished runner-up twice. He has also produced 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and is responsible for developing many amateurs, including Nick Dunlap and Justin Thomas.
Seawell has been named SEC coach of the year four separate times and was elected to the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 2016. He has done an excellent job both producing wins and developing players.
Kristy Curry, women’s basketball, 12th year
Job performance: A-
When Curry took the Alabama job in 2013, it was one of the worst Power 6 jobs in the country, as the Crimson Tide hadn’t won more than five conference games since 2001 and hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 1998.
Curry’s team has made the tournament in four of the past five seasons and advanced to the second round three times. This past season was historic, as the team was ranked in the AP poll for the first time this century.
Although the second-round loss this year to Maryland may be frustrating, fans shouldn’t ignore how Curry has elevated this program to levels it hasn’t seen since Bill Clinton was president. Crimson Tide fans will just hope that Curry’s teams can advance further in the NCAA Tournament in the future.
Mic Potter, women’s golf, 20th year
Job performance: A-
Potter has seen plenty of success since coming to Tuscaloosa in 2005. He has won a national championship and 38 tournament titles and made 16 NCAA Championship appearances. He also guided Emma Talley to the individual championship in 2015.
A six-time SEC coach of the year, Potter was also elected to the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 2005. Like Seawell, Potter’s display of developing amateur talent such as Talley and Brooke Pancake has been on display, as well as producing program success.
Margo Geer, swim and dive, fourth year
Job Performance: A-
In her first season as Alabama coach, Greer brought success, as the women’s team had its highest national finish in program history and the men’s team had a top 15 finish.
Then the following season at the 2022 SEC championships, she guided the men to a second-place finish and the women’s to a third-place spot, both highest marks this century. Geer has helped produce several individual SEC champions, including Charlie Hawke and Morgan Scott.
Glenn Putyrae, rowing, seventh year
Job Performance: B+
Rowing was not one of Alabama’s strengths before Putyrae came to Tuscaloosa, with the program never making the NCAA Tournament. But Putyrae accomplished just that in 2021, giving the program its first-ever appearance.
Putyrae was also named Big 12 (rowing doesn’t have an SEC conference) coach of the year in 2019 and has guided second- and third-place finishes at the Big 12 championships each of the past five seasons.
Patrick Murphy, softball, 27th year
Job Performance: B+
Murphy has been involved with the softball program since its inception in 1996 and has been the head coach since 1998. He has led the team to the NCAA Tournament every season and the College World Series 15 times, and he brought home the first title in program history in 2012.
Although it hasn’t been as successful in recent seasons, including the Crimson Tide finishing just 10-14 in SEC play last season, Murphy has been the lifeblood of this program since the beginning. For that, his spot in Tuscaloosa is safe.
Dan Waters, Track & field, cross country, 14th year
Job Performance: B+
The first thing Waters did when he was hired as head coach was propose a renovation of the Sam Bailey Track & Field Complex, which has since helped elevate the training of many track athletes. Waters guided the men’s track and field team to its first NCAA championship this century when the team won it in 2018.
Waters has presided over many exceptional individual runners, including Doris Lemngole, who has won an outdoor national championship and a cross-country national championship. He also oversaw current Alabama runners Tarsis Orogot and Samuel Ogazi, who competed in the 2024 Olympics.
Wes Hart, soccer, ninth year
Job Performance: B
Hart had already seen success at the college level before he was hired by Alabama in 2015. As an assistant coach, he won the national championship with Florida State in 2014.
He helped make the first three NCAA round of 16 appearances in program history, consecutively from 2021 to 2023. His 2022 team also made it to the College Cup before losing to eventual champion UCLA in the semifinals. This past year was a struggle, with the team not making the NCAA Tournament, but he is still solidified as the best coach in program history.
George Husack, men’s tennis, 13th year
Job Performance: B
Since being hired to bring Alabama men’s tennis back to prominence in 2012, Husack has guided the Crimson Tide to four NCAA Tournaments and only its fourth Sweet 16 appearance in program history.
Husack has also overseen seven NCAA doubles championships, and helped guide Filip Planinsek to the 2024 singles championship win, the program’s only win in that event.
Jonatan Berhane, women’s tennis, second year
Job Performance: B
Berhane quickly helped the program achieve success in his first season, as his squad won the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic for just the third time in program history. The squad was ranked for the entirety of his first season.
He also guided Anne Marie Hiser and Petra Sedlackova to second-team All-SEC honors in 2024, and Sedlackova advanced to the ITA Fall National Championships. This season has been a bit of a struggle with the team at 3-10 in conference play, but Berhane’s job still should have a long leash on it.
Kalen DeBoer, football, second year
Job Performance: C+
When DeBoer was hired in 2024, he found himself in a tough situation, having to follow in the footsteps of legendary head coach Nick Saban. Most view his 9-4 first season as a disappointment.
But it’s possible DeBoer was dealt a rough hand, as many players transferred in the wake of Saban’s retirement, and this past season’s starting quarterback, Jalen Milroe, had a very inconsistent season. With a new slate and more of his system instilled, he may bounce back, and his job is still safe, but this season will need to see better results or else he may be on the hot seat in Year 3.
Ashley Johnston, gymnastics, third year
Job Performance: C-
Alabama has always had high expectations for gymnastics, especially after former legendary head coach Sarah Patterson won six national championships. Johnston was hired in 2022 as the program hoped to return to national success.
The team made regionals in her first season and took a trip to the semifinals in her second, showing steady growth. However, the start of this season was a big struggle, as the team went a poor 1-7 in conference play, raising big concerns.
But her squad turned it around with a Session 1 win and a fifth-place showing at the SEC championship, which was good enough to earn the team hosting abilities in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Rashinda Reed, volleyball, fourth year
Job Performance: D-
Alabama’s volleyball program has been lacking for a while now, and Reed hasn’t been able to right the ship.
In three years under the helm, Reed’s Alabama squads have gone a combined 8-44 in SEC play, including a dismal 1-14 in 2023, and are consistently at the bottom of the SEC. The Crimson Tide has consistently struggled, and next season may be make or break for Reed.
