The Alabama Crimson Tide are beginning to shape the new coaching staff under former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer, who took the position after Nick Saban shocked the college football world by suddenly retiring last week.
In a short time, DeBoer has started to assemble a staff that will face instant massive expectations to win immediately and pick up where Saban left off.
So far, the former Huskies coach has solidified his two top coordinators. The biggest move was former Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubbs deciding to follow the Huskies head coach halfway across the country to Tuscaloosa.
Grubb is coming off his second season with Washington after spending five seasons with Fresno State. In 2022, the Huskies averaged 515.8 yards per game, second to Tennessee in the country, and 39.7 points per game, which was seventh in the country.
This past year, Grubb helped the development of Michael Penix Jr. He was the architect behind the No. 2 passing team in all of college football, behind only Oregon, averaging 347.7 passing yards through the air per game and finishing the season with 38 touchdowns through the air.
Alabama fans should be thrilled about the prospect of him taking Jalen Milroe’s game to the next level.
Ironically, Grubb interviewed with the Alabama Crimson Tide last January, and turned the OC position down to stay with DeBoer in Washington.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kalen DeBoer hired South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack.
The new defensive coordinator played at Arkansas and Southern Miss before early coaching stops at Tennessee-Martin, Jacksonville State and Ole Miss.
He served as USA’s linebackers coach and DC in 2016 and 2017 before returning as head coach in 2021. Now, he’s remaining in the state, filling the void left by the retired Kevin Steele.
“I have always found a way to do more with less and now I will have more, which is very exciting,” Wommack said. “But we need to see what those pieces can do and how they best fit.”
After taking the new job, Wommack spoke with AL.com, describing what Crimson Tide fans can expect from him under Kalen DeBoer’s new leadership.
“I think what makes me a good defensive coordinator is I recognize that players need to have production,” Wommack said.
“There’s a certain way that you need to call the game to make sure that you maximize a young man’s opportunity at the next level and also creates the best opportunity for you to win games.”
Wommack has run a 4-2-5 defensive scheme throughout his career that relies heavily on strong play from the safety position.
Kalen DeBoer was able to bring Washington WR coach JaMarcus Shepard with him to Tuscaloosa, while retaining two key members of Saban’s Alabama Staff, DL coach Freddie Roach and RB coach Robert Gillespie.
Keeping two assistants familiar with how Saban ran his program and that are plugged into the recruiting trail in the SEC is massive for a coach coming from a program so far away.
Kalen DeBoer Adds Huge Defensive Assistant With The Hiring Of Wisconsin DC/Safeties Coach
The Wisconsin Badgers recently got two coaches from the SEC, but now they’re losing arguably their most valuable assistant, as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Colin Hitschler is heading to the Alabama to work under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, per multiple reports.
Hitschler’s position will be the same at Alabama, where he’ll also work as the co-defensive coordinator alongside new hire Kane Wommack, as well as the team’s safeties coach.
The loss is vital to Wisconsin, as Hitschler has been a key recruiter along the East Coast, where the Badgers struck paydirt with several recruits in their 2024 class.
The newest addition to the Alabama Crimson Tide staff under Kalen DeBoer isn’t surprising though, as industry sources have pegged Hitschler as one of college’s top up-and-coming coaches who could be in turn for a head coaching opportunity in the near future.
