Alabama is reportedly targeting Notre Dame’s Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator to replace Bill O’Brien

Nick Saban is taking aim Mother of God offensive coordinator Tommy Reese as a top target to run the same role Alabama, according to multiple reports. Reese will reportedly be in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Thursday.

Saban is looking for a new playmaker after Bill O’Brien left the program this offseason to take the same job with the New England Patriots, though O’Brien wasn’t expected to be retained either way. Saban looks for fifth offensive coordinator after Lane Kiffin steps down as FAU coach through 2017 Student football National championship in the playoffs.

At age 30, Reese became Saban’s youngest coordinator since Will Muschamp LDU in 2002. Reese was Notre Dame’s quarterbacks coach from 2017-19 under former coach Brian Kelly and added the role of offensive coordinator in 2020. A quarterback at Notre Dame from 2010-13, he has never served as a full-time assistant coach at another program, but was on the San Diego Chargers’ offensive staff in 2016.

Heading into the 2022 season, the Fighting Irish thrived under Reese, hampered by a Week 2 injury to quarterback Tyler Buechner. In the remaining two years under Reese, the Irish averaged at least six yards per game. Last year, Reese led the offensive transition from Buechner to Drew Pine at quarterback, focusing on the ground approach.

The news that Reese has been targeted by Saban comes just two days after Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb it is reported that he refused the job back to Husky. Grubb helped quarterback Michael Penix Jr. become the nation’s leading passer last season with 357 yards per game.