Auburn icon Carnell “Cadillac” Williams has been hired by archrival Alabama as the Crimson Tide’s new Run Game Coordinator, marking one of the most unexpected coaching crossovers in recent SEC history.
The announcement came late Friday from Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, who confirmed the hire during a brief media availability. Williams, the former Auburn All-American running back and beloved figure on the Plains, will oversee the ground attack and work closely with the running backs and offensive line in Tuscaloosa. Sources close to the program indicate the move follows Williams’ recent departure from the Las Vegas Raiders, where he served as running backs coach in 2024 before staff changes under new leadership.
“This is about football first,” DeBoer said in a prepared statement. “Cadillac is one of the most respected minds in the running game. His playing pedigree, coaching experience, and ability to develop talent make him a perfect fit for what we’re building here. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the family.”
Williams’ journey to this point has been anything but conventional. A star at Auburn from 2001-2004, he rushed for 3,831 yards and 45 touchdowns, earning consensus All-American honors and helping lead the Tigers to an undefeated season in 2004. Drafted fifth overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005, he claimed NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors before a nine-year pro career hampered by injuries.
His coaching path began modestly—stints at Henderson State, West Georgia, IMG Academy, and the Birmingham Iron—before returning to Auburn in 2019 as running backs coach under Gus Malzahn. He stayed through transitions with Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze, earning promotion to associate head coach. Most memorably, Williams served as Auburn’s interim head coach in 2022 after Harsin’s dismissal, going 2-2 in four games and igniting a remarkable revival that included an upset over then-No. 1 Texas A&M. His emotional postgame speeches and player-first approach endeared him even further to the Auburn faithful.
After resigning from Auburn in early 2024 to pursue NFL opportunities, Williams landed with the Raiders but found himself in flux following coaching turnover. Now, at 43, he’s crossing the ultimate rivalry line to join Alabama, a program he once battled fiercely in the Iron Bowl.
Reaction has been electric and polarized. Auburn fans expressed a mix of betrayal, confusion, and reluctant respect on social media, with one prominent booster tweeting, “This hurts, but if anyone can handle the pressure, it’s Cadillac. War Eagle anyway.” Alabama supporters, meanwhile, celebrated the addition of a proven evaluator and motivator. “DeBoer just got a steal,” one Tide analyst posted. “Williams knows how to run the ball in this league.”
The hire underscores Alabama’s aggressive approach to bolstering its run game amid evolving offensive philosophies in the post-Nick Saban era. Williams’ expertise in backfield development—honed from mentoring NFL talents and college standouts—could prove invaluable as the Crimson Tide seeks to reclaim dominance in the ground attack.
Williams himself addressed the move in a short statement: “Football has always been bigger than rivalries for me. This is an opportunity to grow, teach, and compete at the highest level. I respect Auburn and what it means to so many, but I’m excited to roll with the Tide and help build something special.”
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