Under the leadership of Nick Saban, “The Process” became the cornerstone of Alabama’s football culture, and it created consistent excellence over the Saban era. Now, with Kalen DeBoer leading a new era, he and his staff, including offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, have been entrusted with upholding and continuing this tradition. Their challenge is to maintain the legacy while steering Alabama through the inevitable highs and lows of the game. It’s something that Sheridan identifies as the number one thing he has learned throughout his career which has been marked by both adversity and prosperity. Like the Tide under the leadership of Coach Saban, Sheridan used the Process as his compass.
Adversity and Prosperity
Alabama Offensive Coordinator and quarterback coach Nick Sheridan has lived in the Process, which has allowed him to deal with adversity and prosperity in his career.
Sheridan’s coaching journey has been nothing short of a testament to resilience. From leading Indiana’s offense to a historic season to facing the setbacks of a challenging year and rising again at Washington and Alabama, Sheridan’s story reflects perseverance and growth.
In 2020, as Indiana’s offensive coordinator, Sheridan helped quarterback Michael Penix Jr. lead the Hoosiers to an incredible season. The Hoosiers climbed into the top-10 of national polls during the pandemic-shortened Big Ten season, finishing 6-2 and averaging 28.9 points per game. Indiana was on the rise, and Sheridan’s offensive scheme was central to their success.
But the following year brought a wave of challenges. Penix, who had been the heart of the offense, was plagued by injuries, forcing him to miss a significant portion of the 2021 season. Without their star quarterback, Indiana’s offense faltered. Their scoring dipped to just 17.3 points per game, placing them among the bottom 10 offenses in the nation.
Following that tough season, Sheridan was let go. Indiana head coach Tom Allen expressed his gratitude for Sheridan’s work but recognized the need for change. The decision was a blow, but it didn’t define Sheridan’s career. Rather, it set the stage for his next chapter.
The Next Chapter
Sheridan reunited with Kalen DeBoer at Washington, where the two played pivotal roles in one of the most dramatic turnarounds in college football. In 2022, the Huskies exploded offensively, leading the entire nation in passing yards per game (369.8) and finishing second in total offense (515.8 yards per game). Just one year earlier, Washington had struggled, ranking 73rd in passing offense and 114th in total offense with a 4-8 record.
Sheridan’s impact was undeniable. He helped mold Washington’s tight ends into integral parts of an offense that earned national attention, complementing the explosive wide receiver corps that was pivotal in Michael Penix Jr.’s impressive numbers. One of Sheridan’s tight ends, Jack Westover tallied 46 catches for 433 yards and four touchdowns during the Huskies’ Pac-12 Championship-winning 2023 season.
The success didn’t stop there. In February 2024, Sheridan found himself on another national stage, stepping into the role of offensive coordinator for Alabama after Ryan Grubb departed for the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the unexpected shift, Sheridan embraced the challenge and took the reins of one of the most prestigious programs in the college football.
A Microcosm of the Process
This past weekend encapsulated the value of a process that handles adversity and prosperity. The Alabama offense was prosperous in jumping out to a 28-0 lead over Georgia. Everything was going right for the Tide.
Then they faced adversity and went down 34-33 with just 2:31 left in the game, but the Tide found a way and after a 67-yard touchdown from Jalen Milroe to Ryan Williams. They added a 2-point conversion and battled the last two minutes to preserve a 41-34 victory.
It’s a testament to “The Process” engrained in the Alabama culture by Nick Saban, and now carried on by Kalen Deboer, Nick Sheridan, the staff, and players.
Here’s Coach Sheridan explaining why it’s important to create a process and stick with it.
Video: Create a Process
Whether things are going well or you are facing adversity right now in your season, stick with the process!
