fsu looking to raid alabama's staff?

Kirby Smart- Defensive Coordinator, Alabama

Age: 33 years old

Connected to: Jimbo Fisher- Smart was a DB coach for the 2004 LSU team. Florida State- He was also a graduate assistant at FSU in 2002 and 2003.

Coaching Experience: Valdosta State DB coach (2000), Valdosta State Defensive Coordinator (2001), Florida State Graduate Assistant (2002-2003), LSU DB coach (2004), UGA RB Coach (2005), Miami Dolphins Safeties coach (2006), Alabama DB coach (2007), Alabama Defensive Coordinator (2008-present)

Coached with: Mickey Andrews, Nick Saban, Kevin Steele

Current Salary: Reportedly earns between $360,000 and $400,000 over the next 3 seasons.

Can he coach? Absolutely. Smart is probably one of the best young defensive coordinators in the game. I can't honestly say how much of Alabama's defensive success is due to Smart and how much is due to Saban, but let's put it this way: Nick Saban would not hire someone to be his Defensive Coordinator if he was not a good coach.

Can he recruit? This season, Rivals lists Smart as the primary recruiter for 1 Five Star, 3 Four Star, and 2 Three Star recruits. Last year he signed 2 Four Star and 2 Three Star recruits, and was the primary Alabama recruiter for Greg Reid and Jacobbi McDaniel(keep in mind Reid almost went to Alabama). He is young and the reputation of Alabama's defense would attract top prospects. If FSU has any chance to get back the Corey Millers, Brandon Willis', Jeff Lucs of the world, Smart is probably the one who could do it.

Should FSU want him? Umm... yes. Florida State should want him very badly. Probably the most likely person on this list to "save" the 2010 recruiting class. In addition to recruiting talent, Smart has the experience necessary to put a defensive product on the field in the 2010 season that would not lose games for us (allowing what should be a phenomenal offense to carry us) and a defense in 2011 that could very well lead to BCS bowl aspirations.

Could FSU get him? Possibly. Florida State has some things going for it in this situation. Smart has been in Tallahassee before (maybe he loves the area). He is from Bainbridge, GA, which is only 30 minutes away from Tallahassee. His folks still live there. No matter what happens at Alabama, it will always be "Nick Saban's Defense." Smart needs to make his own name eventually. Kevin Steele learned that when things go well on defense in Alabama, it is because of Nick Saban. When things go poorly, the Defensive Coordinator gets fired or demoted. Saban is also reportedly a very difficult boss to work for, so maybe Kirby wants to free himself. Regardless, it would take at least $500K annually for him to consider moving to Tallahassee.

If Smart comes here, FSU should only expect to keep him for 1-3 years as he would definitely look to secure a head coaching position.


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Sal Sunseri- Inside Linebackers coach, Alabama


Age: 50 years old

Connected to: Jimbo Fisher- Sunseri coached at LSU in 2000.

Coaching Experience: DL and LB coach Pittsburgh Panthers(1985-1992), Head Coach Iowa Wesleyan (1993), Defensive Coordinator Illinois St. (1994), LB coach Louisville (1995-1997), Defensive Coordinator Alabama A&M (1998-1999), LB coach LSU (2000), LB coach Michigan State (2001), DL coach Carolina Panthers (2002-2008), ILB coach Alabama (2009-present)

Coached with: Nick Saban, John Fox

Current Salary: Between $325,000 and $350,000 over the next 3 seasons.

Can he coach? Let's put it this way, Nick Saban and John Fox don't hire coaches if they don't believe they can coach. Sunseri's defensive lines performed well with the Panthers, it is rumored that personality conflicts between him and Julius Peppers led to his eventual release (he wasn't really fired or released, but the handwriting was on the wall before he took the Alabama job).

Can he recruit? Another guy who could sell his pedigree, Sunseri is at worst a candidate who could develop a successful defense while being surroundec by top recruiters. Rivals currently lists him as the top recruiter for 2 Four Star and 1 Three Star commit.

Should FSU want him? Sunseri is a very good coach and Florida State would be lucky to have him. However, he and Jimbo only spent one season together at LSU, so I do not know that they have the closest relationship. I would target Kirby Smart before Sunseri if I were looking at Alabama's staff.

Could FSU get him? Sunseri is paid very well for a position coach. Florida State is not likely to be able to match his salary unless he is made the Defensive Coordinator. If Florida State were able to attract Kirby Smart, there is the potential that Sunseri could come as a position coach, but in that scenario it is probably more likely that Sunseri is promoted within the Alabama staff.

 

Guess these guys forgot about crossman.