Tennessee vs. Alabama: If Nick Saban Ever Retires, These Coaches Are on the List

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Will the 59-year-old Nick Saban ever retire, or will he coach until he's well into his 80s like Joe Paterno at Penn State?

It could be a very, very long time before Nick Saban ever calls it quits. He just loves interacting with the media too much.

Oh. He's also still pretty good at what he does.

His major stops along the coaching road in the last 20 years include Michigan State, LSU and Alabama. He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns (1991) and Miami Dolphins (2005-2006).

Saban has compiled a 141-53-1 record as a college head coach, including a 50-11 mark at Alabama.

He has two BCS National Championships and has been named the AP Coach of the Year twice.

And he doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

However, when that day does come, who are the coaches likely to be on the short list of possible candidates to replace him at Alabama?

Of course, it's hard to say exactly who because it could be 15 or more years down the road.

That being said, there are five guys who are all part of the Nick Saban coaching tree who could all be in the running to replace Saban should that day come sooner than later.

Let's start with...

5. Derek Dooley: Head Coach, Tennessee

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Derek Dooley inherited a mess in Tennessee after the messy departure of Lane Kiffin a couple years ago.

To his credit, Dooley has done a nice job considering the conditions under which he took the job.

Who knows where Dooley will be by the time Saban decides to retire from coaching.

If he proves himself as a good head coach at Tennessee in the coming years, Alabama will likely consider him as a replacement when the it is in the market for a new coach.

That being said, he could be the replacement for Mark Richt whenever Georgia decides to part ways with its current coach.

Dooley spent time with Nick Saban at LSU and with the Miami Dolphins from 2000 to 2006.

4. Todd Grantham: Defensive Coordinator, Georgia

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Grantham has spent the last 20 years moving between the college ranks and the NFL. He's currently the defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia.

Grantham spent six seasons at Virginia Tech starting in 1990. In his final season, the Hokies ranked first in the nation in rush defense, fifth in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. Tech won the Big East title and were victorious over Texas in the Sugar Bowl.

He then spent three seasons in East Lansing coaching the defensive line at Michigan State.

Grantham was in the NFL from 1999 to 2007, making stops in Houston, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Dallas.

Grantham installed a 3-4 defense in Athens last season, and the Bulldogs have made significant strides on defense during his short tenure.

3. Mark Dantonio, Head Coach, Michigan State

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Mark Dantonio played defensive back at the University of South Carolina, though, USC was not a member of the SEC at the time.

Dantonio has made stops at Ohio, Purdue, Butler CC, Ohio State, Akron, Youngstown State, Kansas, Michigan State, Ohio State again and Cincinnati before returning to Michigan State in 2007.

As far as a coaching pedigree, Dantonio has spent time under Nick Saban at Michigan State during the 1990s and under Jim Tressel at Ohio State from 2001 to 2003.

Dantonio has proven to be a very good head coach, compiling a 56-37 record overall and 38-20 at Michigan State.

This season, the Spartans are No. 15 in the country with a 5-1 record. MSU has beaten rival Michigan four straight seasons under Dantonio.

2. Jim McElwain: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach, Alabama

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Jim McElwain has been the offensive coordinator at Alabama since 2008.

He's also made stops at Eastern Washington, Montana State, Louisville, Michigan State, the Oakland Raiders and Fresno State.

McElwain is a great offensive mind and has had outstanding success at Michigan State, Fresno State and Alabama.

He's never been a head coach, but he will be on the short list if he's still in Tuscaloosa when Saban finally decides to call it quits.

1. Kirby Smart, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach, Alabama

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Kirby Smart is the current defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Alabama.

Smart played defensive back at Georgia from 1995 to 1998 before becoming an administrative assistant for the program.

He spent two seasons at Valdosta State and two more at Florida State before joining Saban's staff at LSU in 2004.

Smart went onto Georgia for a season before spending one season with the Miami Dolphins, also under Saban.

When Saban took over at Alabama in 2007, he took Smart along with him, and Smart has been part of Saban's staff ever since.

For as much credit as Saban gets for Alabama's success, it cannot be underestimated how important Kirby Smart has been to Alabama's defensive dominance for the last five seasons.

If Smart wants to stick around and wait for Saban to walk away from football, I think he will become the head coach in waiting at Alabama.