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New Alabama WR coach has ‘transitioned smoothly’ to the Crimson Tide

Originally posted on Touchdown Alabama Magazine
By Stephen M. Smith | Last updated Mar 14, 2026 10:06 AM ET

An energetic assistant coach is gone, but Alabama’s offense appears to have not skipped a beat.

JaMarcus Shephard graduated from wide receivers coach in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) to now head coaching his program at Oregon State University. The Crimson Tide knew where to find its next teacher of wide receivers and someone who could get Ryan Coleman-Williams back on track.

Derrick Nix is from the state of Alabama (Attalla, Ala.) and has Southeastern Conference coaching experience at Ole Miss (2008-23) and Auburn (2024-25) before arriving at the University of Alabama. The 46-year-old has tutored some impressive wide outs, including Elijah Moore (Ole Miss), Dontario Drummond (Ole Miss), and Cam Coleman (Auburn). Moore and Drummond were 1,000-plus yard weapons for the Rebels, while Coleman was an elite talent for the Tigers.

Nix has a young, but incredibly talented room for the Crimson Tide this season.

Image | Source: Touchdown Alabama

Sep 13, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) makes a face at the camera as he leaves the field after Alabama’s game with Wisconsin at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Coleman-Williams enjoyed the development and energy he got from Shephard; nevertheless, he sees no drop off with Nix.

The junior wide receiver says Nix still gets his point across, regardless of not having the extra energy of Shephard.

“It has been a smooth transition,” Coleman-Williams said Thursday of Alabama’s receivers moving from Shephard to Nix. “It has been a consistently growing relationship and I am super thankful for what Coach Nix has given to me so far. Coach Shep was always a ball of energy and he got the best out of his guys, but Coach Nix gets the best out of his guys in a different way.”

Nix is a bit more direct in his approach.

“He is more deliberate in what he is saying,” Coleman-Williams said. “He does not have to be as energized, but he gets the point across just as well.”

A more deliberate approach may just be what this group of young receivers need. Coleman-Williams is now the old man in the room with his experience, but Lotzier Brooks, Rico Scott, Derek Meadows, Cederian Morgan, and others need to be developed.

Spring practice has gone well thus far, but we will see how Nix continues to adjust.

This article first appeared on Touchdown Alabama Magazine and was syndicated with permission.

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