Why 2024 has already been a year of big changes in Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa has set a fast pace for big changes just two months into 2024.

Three of the highest-profile jobs at the University of Alabama either changed hands or will soon change hands, while Northport experienced a big tourism loss and a potential big tourism win.

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Here's a recap of six big changes in Tuscaloosa in 2024:

Nick Saban retires

Nick Saban announced his retirement as the University of Alabama's football coach on Jan. 10 after 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa. In 28 years as a head coach, Saban earned seven national championships (six at UA and one at LSU) and 11 SEC championships (nine at UA and two at LSU) while compiling a record of 292 wins, 71 losses and one tie.

"The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me," Saban said. "We have enjoyed every minute of our 17 years being the head coach at Alabama as well as becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community ... We will always consider Alabama our home."

In February, ESPN announced that the 72-year-old former Crimson Tide coach will join the network as an analyst on ESPN's "College GameDay." Saban will provide commentary across ESPN's platforms for a myriad of events, including the NFL draft and SEC media days.

Kalen DeBoer hired

Kalen DeBoer became the University of Alabama's 28th head football coach on Jan. 12. Just four days earlier, DeBoer had led the University of Washington to the College Football Playoff championship game, where the Huskies lost to the Michigan Wolverines.

"Following Coach Saban is an honor," DeBoer said when his hiring was announced. "He has been the standard for college football, and his success is unprecedented. I would not have left Washington for just any school. The chance to lead the football program at the University of Alabama is the opportunity of a lifetime."

In his nine seasons as a head coach, DeBoer has won 104 games while losing 12. His head coaching resume includes two years at Washington, two years at Fresno State and five seasons at the University of Sioux Falls, where he led his alma mater to three NAIA national titles.

DeBoer's first game as the Crimson Tide football coach is set for Aug. 31 against Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Eli Gold replaced by Chris Stewart

University of Alabama football fans learned Feb. 21 that longtime announcer Eli Gold would not return to the Crimson Tide Sports Network in fall of 2024.

Gold, who had served as a football play-by-play announcer for 35 years, will be replaced by Chris Stewart, CTSN's play-by-play voice for Alabama basketball.

Stewart had filled in for Gold during the 2022 football season as Gold battled health issues. The two shared the role in 2023, with Gold calling home games and the Iron Bowl in Auburn and Stewart handling road games and the postseason.

Gold made it clear that it wasn't his decision to depart and that he had no plans to retire. On Feb. 23, Gold was announced as the play-by-play announcer for the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League.

UA System chancellor to depart

Finis “Fess” St. John IV announced on Feb. 8 that he would leave his post as chancellor of the University of Alabama, a job he has held since 2018. Starting April 1, St. John will serve as the inaugural executive director of the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership, which is at the Tuscaloosa campus.

During St. John's tenure, the UA System’s annual economic impact on the state passed $15 billion, and annual research and development expenditures increased by about 40% to more than $1 billion.

A search committee has been formed to find a new UA system chancellor. Sid J. Trant, current general counsel and senior vice chancellor of the UA System, will step in as interim chancellor when St. John moves to the Shelby Institute.

Northport approves University Beach project

The Northport City Council on Feb. 19 voted to explore a public-private partnership that aims to build a $350 million beach resort on nearly 80 acres in the city of about 31,000 residents.

The development would be off McFarland Boulevard, near the shopping center that features Tractor Supply Co. and Big Lots.

Mayor John Hinton will enter into negotiations with University Beach LLC, a Texas-based entity formed in 2023, for this project, which had been introduced earlier as a smaller-scale proposal for a water park.

The 11-acre water park portion is planned to be built first, consisting of a "lazy river" (float-through attraction on inner-tube-like inflatables) and five slides, adjacent to a 12-acre lake-like beach lagoon, with a waterfall, floating obstacle course, paddleboard and kayaking rentals. Other add-on activities may include a beach club holding up to 10,000 square feet of indoor dining, an outdoor concert venue with 12,000 feet of seating, along with light shows, pickleball courts and more.

Looping around that lagoon would be 64 (estimated) single-family residences, priced beginning at $800,000, with that going up for those facing the water; two multi-story hotels, restaurant and other retail options.

The beach resort faced stiff opposition from an overflow crowd at the council meeting. Residents voiced concerns about potential property value declines, traffic, wildlife, flooding, noise and light pollution, among other issues.

Kentuck festival moves to Tuscaloosa

On Feb. 22, the Kentuck Festival of the Arts officially announced plans to move from Northport to Tuscaloosa.

The 53rd Kentuck Festival of the Arts will be held Oct. 19-20 at Snow Hinton Park. This will mark the first time since the festival's debut in 1971 that the event hasn't been held at Kentuck Park in Northport.

Disagreements over Northport's proposed contract for 2024 and the city's plans to build a sports complex adjacent to Kentuck Park were among the factors that led the Kentuck board to empower staff to begin seeking a new location.

Among advantages to the move will be increased acreage, more easily-accessible paved paths, and new bathrooms, benches and pavilions arriving as part of the city of Tuscaloosa's $10.2 million in improvements for Snow Hinton Park.

The Tuscaloosa-Kentuck Festival agreement is for 2024; no details have been set yet for 2025 or beyond.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why 2024 has already been a big year for changes in Tuscaloosa