Louisville baseball coach Dan McDonnell comments on Alabama job speculation

Louisville baseball coach Dan McDonnell has been the subject of speculation about his future with the Cardinals next season after this year. Although McDonnell hasn’t committed to leaving the program, he has re-iterated multiple times that he wants to coach somewhere that’s “committed” to baseball.

This lack of commitment to Louisville has led to speculation about his new coaching destination if he leaves. Emerging as a possible landing spot is Alabama — having recently fired Brad Bohannon. According to recent reports from Baseball America and D1 Baseball, McDonnell to the Crimson Tide is a move that makes sense.

McDonnell spoke to media members about the rumored ties to the newly vacant Alabama coaching position, and did not directly shoot it down. Instead, the Cardinals coach seemed to leave the door wide open.

Dan McDonnell on Alabama coaching rumors

“Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell is asked about the speculation [or] chatter of him being tied to the Alabama job,” explained Louisville Report‘s Matt McGavin. “And while he said he ‘always expects to be back,’ he didn’t shoot it down. ‘I want to be at a place that’s committed [to baseball].'”

McDonnell has been vocal of his criticisms about Louisville’s baseball facilities this season, making it clear publicly that he wants to coach somewhere that’s “committed to baseball” as he puts it. Despite his objections, the Cardinals struggled immensely on the field down the stretch of the season. Louisville began the year with an 18-2 record before losing 22 of their last 35 games. Now, Louisville failed to reach their conference tournament for the first time since 1970.

The position came available at Alabama in the first place after Bohannon was fired at the beginning of May. An investigation was opened into suspicious betting activity ahead of Alabama’s game against LSU a week prior. A bettor was alleged to make bets on the game while on surveillance video while in contact with Bohannon.

The school fired Bohannon as a result for “among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees.”

Bohannon had coached the Crimson Tide since 2017, and had a career record of 166-124. Alabama reached the NCAA Tournament one time during his tenure, in 2021. Prior to his firing, the Crimson Tide were 30-15 this season. The team named Jason Jackson as interim coach during the transition, but did not comment further on their future plans because of what they called an “ongoing review.”