Alabama Football expected to hire Robert Gillespie

The Alabama Football program is expected to hire UNC coach Robert Gillespie according to multiple reports

The UNC Football program has seen quite the turnaround the past two years, going from winning just three total games from 2017-18 to improving in 2019 and earning an Orange Bowl birth in 2020.

Under Mack Brown, the Tar Heels coaching staff has done a great job not only coaching up the players on the field but in recruiting as well. The staff at North Carolina is excellent and should continue to help this program rise in future years.

But they might be doing so without one of their top position coaches and recruiters.

According to a report from Yahoo Sports writer Pete Thamel, Alabama is targeting UNC running back coach Robert Gillespie to serve that position down in Tuscaloosa:

TDAlabama Magazine confirmed the report on Sunday morning and revealed that the Crimson Tide are expected to make this hire soon.

Gillespie joined Larry Fedora’s staff in 2018, leaving his position at Tennessee where he coached former Alabama recruit Alvin Kamara. He was retained when Mack Brown took over as the head coach late in 2018 and has developed into one of the best recruiters in the country. 

The Tar Heels have found success at the running back position under Gillespie, coaching both Michael Carter and Javonte Williams the past three years. Both backs rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season as Carter went for 1,245 and nine touchdowns while Williams went for 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns. Both are expected to hear their name called in the 2021 NFL Draft later this year.

This will be a significant loss for the Tar Heels in terms of a position coach as well as on the recruiting trail. They will now look to fill the coaching void this offseason as Spring practice is just a few months away.

For more on the UNC Football program, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.