Could Charlie Strong be the next resident of the world-renowned Alabama football “Home for Wayward and/or Unemployed Head Coaches?”
In early December of last year, Strong was let go as the head coach at South Florida. Over the past two-plus months, the 59-year-old Strong has remained on the outside of the coaching profession looking in. There has been speculation, though, that Strong could be returning to Florida and joining Dan Mullens’ extended staff as a defensive analyst.
Friday, however, it’s being reported that Charlie Strong was in Tuscaloosa visiting with the Alabama football coaching staff Thursday.
Former USF/Texas/Louisville head coach Charlie Strong was in Tuscaloosa visiting with the Alabama coaching staff Thursday. Strong was let go from USF following the season.
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) February 14, 2020
Nick Saban doesn’t have an opening on his 10-man on-field coaching staff. However, Strong could conceivably join the Alabama football program as some type of an analyst, ala Butch Jones and myriad others.
Strong has spent the past decade as a head coach. After going 37-15 in four seasons (2010-13) at Louisville, Strong left to take the head job at Texas. Three seasons (2014-16) in Austin ended with his dismissal following a 16-21 record. Strong’s tenure at USF ended after three seasons (2017-19) as well and a 4-8 2019 campaign.
In the last six years of his head-coaching career, Strong posted a 37-37 record.
Prior to that, Strong spent seven years (2003-09) as the defensive coordinator at Florida. During that time with the Gators, he also coached defensive ends and linebackers. For four of those seasons, Mullen was UF’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before leaving to take the Mississippi State job.
That was actually Strong’s fourth stint with the Gators. From 1991-94, he coached defensive tackles (1994) and defensive ends (1991-93). He also served as outside linebackers coach from 1988-89. Strong began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at UF in 1983-84.
Strong was also the defensive coordinator at South Carolina for four years (1999-2002) before moving on to Gainesville that fourth time. In between the third Gainesville stint and his time in Columbia, Strong was the defensive line coach at Notre Dame from 1995-98.