Nick Saban was able to pluck Southern Miss defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong away to serve as his new linebackers coach earlier this month.
However, Armstrong's time in Tuscaloosa turned out to be pretty short, as Billy Napier was able to lure him to Gainesville with the opportunity to be the Gators defensive coordinator.
That left Saban with an opening again on the defensive side of the ball, and reports this morning share that he's targeting a recently elevated Liberty assistant.
Robert Bala, who served as an analyst for Hugh Freeze before being elevated to linebackers coach when Jamey Chadwell took over, is the Saban's target to replace Armstrong, according to multiple reports this morning.
Pete Thamel was first to share the news, and multiple outlets have followed up to say the same.
Bala interviewed with Alabama this week and is “expected to take the job in the upcoming days,” Thamel's report adds.
After serving as Southern Utah’s cornerbacks in 2018, he added co-special teams coordinator duties in 2019, and became defensive coordinator for the next two seasons before making the jump to Liberty.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.