Question: Which assistant coach would be the most difficult to replace?

[UAME]

With Bama's continued success, it is inevitable that other teams will come calling our assistants with lucrative offers for career advancement. As much as we might like to keep things the same, the simple fact is that we will lose some good coaches at some point. I know the popular sentiment of the day is that Kirby Smart will be among the first to have an opportunity to take a head coaching gig.

I am seeking opinions about which assistant coach brings the most to the table for our program and which might be the most difficult to find a comparable replacement for. Whether you think this coach will actually leave should not have bearing on your answer - just who do you think is the most valuable and why?

 

[DiamondDust]

Scott Cochran was the first name that popped into my head.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Joe Pendry or Scott Cochran.

 

[kyallie]

Kirby Smart. We won't have him long if Georgia calls, or any other "top " program.

 

[Honden]

Scott Cochran hands down.

He means SOOOOO much to the team.

 

[GrayTide]

Coach McIlwain

 

[BamaDMD]

Can't decide between its Cochran or McElwain. The rest ain't shabby either.

 

[FitToBeTide]

Outside of maybe a higher salary somewhere, I can't imagine Coach Cochran having incentive to "moving up" another other position, at least in the collegiate level. Maybe I'm just uninformed on that job, but what school could offer more than we do to a S&C coach?

But to answer the question, probably a toss up between Coach Mc, Coach Smart or Coach Cochran.

 

[TideEngineer08]

It is probably Coach Cochran. It's one thing to get your team to work out, but he brings so much more to the table. That would be extremely difficult to replace.

Other than him, I'd say McElwain. I say him above Kirby Smart because this is Nick Saban's defense, and it always has been. Not that Coach Smart would be easily replaced, but that the nuts and bolts - the foundation - does not leave with him if he were to get a head coaching job. But this is Coach McElwain's offense. A new guy would bring in a whole new offense, and we're now on year 3 of McElwain's. It takes years to put a system in place, and we'd lose all of that if McElwain were to leave. Granted, we might promote from within the staff. But we'd still lose his playcalling ability.

It's going to happen though. It always does. I'm happy we've got Coach Saban making the decisions. He's the best there is at it.

 

[BamaBeta]

Joe Pendry or Scott Cochran.

These are the two that came to mind for me. I think their presence means more than most people realize. Smart and McElwain are great but I expect them to get lured away as we continue to have success.

 

[Vinny]

I would have to go with Coach McIlwain.

 

[Clubfitter]

I would think any coach on the defensive side, CNS could take his next choice and coach him up as to what he wants done and you would see consistency in the defensive plan. Not an insider but would think that the Offensive Coaches would be able to be more creative within the philosophy of offense that CNS gives them. Therefore I would vote for an offensive coach, either McIlwain or Pendry.

 

[TidefaninOS]

Joe Pendry or Scott Cochran.

These would be my picks, too. But B. Burns is certainly entitled to kudos as well!

 

[CapitalTider]

I agree with others, while Smart is a very good coach, assistant losses on the defensive side of the ball don't concern me as much as on the offensive side of the ball.

So McElwain is my first choice of most difficult to replace, followed by a tie between Cochran and Pendry. It may be just that Bucket Step Bob set the bar SO LOW but I'm always impressed by the way our OL has played since Pendry came on board. We might find somebody as good but I'm terrified of having to try. Cochran is fantastic. I think we could find a S&C coach that is as good, but he brings so much more to the table that would be hard to replace.

 

[Alanbama27]

No way Coach Saban will let Coach Cochran go if it's a financial decision! Coach Cochran isn't a "position" coach, he's a S&C coach and that's not a stepping stone job but a permanent one! I've never heard of a S&C coach turning into a position coach who then became a head coach.

With the above said, I think coach Mac is my choice for the hardest to replace because it's HIS offense we're running and we've NEVER had an offense this successful over this long a period of time! Yes, Homer Smith had a good few years but we've never beaten people like we are today offensively speaking. Defensively we've done well historically speaking and this is COACH SABAN'S "D"! Kirby is a great coach but he can be replaced!

 

[BAMALEEBO]

Scott Cochran....He has made Bama such a physical force in college football. Remember the days under previous coaching staffs when we would get pushed around...Not anymore!!! What a motivator!!! He could fire up a cadaver!:biggrin2:

 

[kyallie]

Outside of maybe a higher salary somewhere, I can't imagine Coach Cochran having incentive to "moving up" another other position, at least in the collegiate level. Maybe I'm just uninformed on that job, but what school could offer more than we do to a S&C coach?

But to answer the question, probably a toss up between Coach Mc, Coach Smart or Coach Cochran.

I can't see Coach Cochran either! He's at at the pinnacle in the premier job!

 

[TideMan09]

Hands down it's got to be Coach Pendry..Games are won in the trenches..And our O-Line is playing better than anyone in the country..A really good O-Line Coach is hard to find & even harder to replace..

 

[Honden]

I am so glad to see such a variety of responses to the op.
I suggest that the real answer is any or all of them due
to the talents that each of them bring to the table
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[mittman]

I would also vote Joe Pendry. For many of the same reasons as quoted above. Getting a man of that caliber and experience in any assistant position is a true blessing. IMO it is the most important position on the field, and one of the hardest to coach.