Crimson Tide transfer from offensive assistant

The Alabama Crimson Tide parted ways with offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic on Friday after two seasons with the Crimson Tide, according to Alex Scarborough of Bam247. Kapilovic joined head coach Cullen DeBoer’s inaugural staff in 2024 after spending three years at Michigan State, where he served as offensive line coach, game coordinator and assistant head coach. Prior to that, he coached at Colorado in 2019 and held multiple positions at North Carolina from 2012-2018.

Kapilovic faced an uphill climb in Tuscaloosa trying to get the offensive line to gel. Alabama entered the 2025 season with high expectations, boasting three preseason All-SEC selections: left tackle Kadin Proctor, center Parker Brailsford, and right guard Jaeden Roberts, but the unit struggled to live up to projections. The Crimson Tide averaged just 104.1 yards per game, ranking 125th out of 136 FBS teams, and gained 3.35 yards per carry, second-lowest in the SEC. The line allowed 32 sacks in 15 games, fourth-most in the conference, and was responsible for the most pressures in the SEC with 183, according to Pro Football Focus.

Offensive line turnover has been heavy all season. Alabama used eight different linemen for 170 or more snaps, with multiple position changes failing to bring cohesion to the unit. Wilkin Formby moved from right back to right back, while Geno VanDeMark and Cam Dewberry split left back duties. A preseason All-SEC selection, Roberts lost his starting role and was mostly a backup last season. Quarterback Ty Simpson faced significant pressure in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, suffering an injury in the first half while the rushing attack remained largely ineffective.

The end of the season brought a big upheaval in the offensive line. Proctor and Brailsford declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, Formby transferred to Texas A&M and Dewberry and VanDeMark exhausted their eligibility. Only Michael Carroll, a 2024 freshman All-American, returns as a starter. Backup linemen Olaus Alinen, Arkel Anugwom, Micah DeBose and Rock Montgomery also went through the transfer portal.

The Crimson has already acted to fill the room, adding six transfers: Kaden Strayhorn (Michigan), Ty Haywood (Michigan), Racine Delgati (Cal Poly), Nick Brooks (Texas), Ethan Fields and Jayvin James (Mississippi State). Alabama also brought in five freshmen from the 2026 signing class: Bryson Cooley, Chris Booker, Burr Fretwell, Jared Doughty and Tayel Miller.

Kapilovic becomes the first assistant coach to leave the staff this offseason. Wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard left for the head coaching job at Oregon State, and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan took the offensive coordinator role at Michigan State.

The Crimson Tide will now look for a new offensive line coach to lead a rebuilt unit in DeBoer’s third season. Names reportedly being considered include Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach Scott Huff and former Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman.