Jeff Lebby returned to the SEC this year as head coach at Mississippi State, but he had an opportunity to do so as an assistant in 2023.
Lebby was reportedly on the short list to be Alabama’s offensive coordinator prior to last season, a fact former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban confirmed on the SEC Network set in Dallas on Wednesday. Lebby — Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator at the time — was later asked about his candidacy for a job at Alabama during his session with reporters at SEC Media Days, but admits he declined the opportunity.
“Coach Saban, it was just an honor to have conversations with him as we went through some things,” Lebby said. “I could not be more thankful for the opportunity. At the time, it was something where I felt like I needed to be exactly where my feet were. And he (Saban) did pretty good.”
Saban ultimately hired as his offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, who helped Alabama win the SEC championship in 2023 and play in the Rose Bowl. Rees, who was not retained by new Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer, is now tight ends coach with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
The 40-year-old Lebby has long been considered one of the top offensive minds in college football, dating to his days on the Baylor staff of his father-in-law, Art Briles. He also worked for Josh Heupel at Central Florida and Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss before spending two seasons with Brent Venables at Oklahoma, his alma mater.
Lebby takes over a Mississippi State program that went 5-7 last season under Zach Arnett. The Bulldogs open the 2024 season Aug. 31 at home vs. Eastern Kentucky.