Drew Svoboda was hired in March of 2021 by Alabama head coach Nick Saban to coach tight ends and coordinate special teams for the Crimson Tide. After a successful run as a high school coach in the Houston area, Svoboda is beginning his fourth year in the collegiate ranks after three seasons at Rice. He spent the 2018 campaign as the Owls running backs coach before two years as the special teams coordinator (2019-20). Before joining the Crimson Tide, Svoboda coached at Memphis in the spring of 2021 as the Tigers’ special teams coordinator. At Alabama, Svoboda will inherit tight ends Jahleel Billingsley, Major Tennison and Cameron Latu along with incoming freshmen Caden Clark and Robbie Ouzts. On special teams, the Tide returns Lou Groza Award semifinalist Will Reichard, who was a perfect 98 for 98 on field goal and PAT attempts last season. At Rice in 2020, Svoboda’s Owls played five games in the middle of the pandemic with the special teams producing at a high level. The place-kickers connected on 9-of-12 field goals while the punting unit averaged 42.8 yards per punt. Rice ranked 14th nationally in total special teams rankings in 2020 by Pro Football Focus.