On November 26, 2006, Alabama football legend, and former athletic director, Mal Moore, fired head coach Mike Shula. Since Gene Stalling’s departure in 1996, the Crimson Tide had become familiar with continuous coaching changes. It was, once again, time to search for new beginnings.
The search began in late November and lasted until early January. Mal Moore carefully vetted and communicated with many candidates. The top five were: Steve Spurrier, Greg Schiano, David Cutcliffe, Rich Rodriguez, and Nick Saban.
Nick Saban ultimately won the job after a long and aggravating battle. Saban proclaimed for months that he was not leaving the Miami Dolphins, but after an in-house visit by Mal Moore, and a sufficient heart-to-heart from his wife, Terry, then Saban finally agreed to return to college football.