Saban 2/26 press conference video

If you want some text to read along with the video, here’s UA’s release on the staff changes:

Saban Announces Football Staff Addition as well as Two Promotions

(UA) TUSCALOOSA—University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban announced the hiring of a new Director of Player Personnel, Tim Davis, as well as promotions for current coaches Kevin Steele and Kirby Smart on his defensive staff Tuesday.

Tim Davis, who has previously worked with the Miami Dolphins and on Pete Carroll’s USC staff, has been named Alabama’s Director of Player Personnel. His responsibilities will include oversight of coaching clinics, camps and other events while also organizing on-campus recruiting.

“Tim’s got a lot of energy and a positive attitude,” said Saban. “He’s a very upbeat guy, someone who I really enjoyed having on the staff and working with for two years in Miami. We’ve established a system of how we recruit here, an evaluation system and an overall system of communication and mailings. Tim will certainly have to learn that system but we have a lot of good people, and I’m sure he’ll have a lot of things that he can do to improve that system.”

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Davis previously served as assistant offensive line coach with the Miami Dolphins. Prior to joining Saban’s staff in Miami in 2005, Davis spent three seasons as an assistant with the USC Trojans coaching the guards and centers. Two of those USC teams won at least a share of the national championship during his three-year stint (2002-04). Davis was the tight ends/offensive tackles coach at Wisconsin from 1997-2001 before making the moving to Southern California. He was a three-year letterman as an offensive tackle at Utah, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1982. Davis later received his master’s at Wisconsin in 1986.

“I’m excited to be here at the University of Alabama,” said Davis. “Having spent time on the Dolphins’ staff with Nick, I know the caliber of coach he is and I’m looking forward to doing my part in building a championship program. It’s great to be back in college football, especially at a place with Alabama’s celebrated history and tradition.”

Saban also announced Tuesday that Steele was promoted to associate head coach/head defensive coach and Smart was promoted to defensive coordinator. Alabama ranked 27th nationally last season in scoring defense (22.0 ppg) and 31st nationally in total defense (345.5 ypg). Three members of the Crimson Tide defense earned first team All-SEC honors (Wallace Gilberry, Rashad Johnson and Simeon Castille) while two other defenders were named to the All-SEC Freshmen team (Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson).

“Kevin’s an outstanding coach and an outstanding recruiter,” said Saban. “He has become a right hand man for me. He’s certainly a guy who would make a fantastic head coach. Of all the assistant coaches I’ve had, Kevin’s as fine as any of them. “Kirby had the opportunity to go someplace else as a defensive coordinator,” said Saban. “We felt it was imperative and very important to keep these two guys together. They had worked very well together in the past. They worked very well last year in helping our defense improve as the year went on. I’m very happy and pleased to have both of those guys on the staff. They both make a strong contribution, they both have tremendous leadership qualities, and they are both very, very good recruiters.”

Alabama opens spring practice on March 13th and the annual A-Day Game is scheduled for April 12th in Bryant-Denny Stadium.