Alabama will have Co-Defensive coordinators for 2024 season

On Monday, University of Alabama head football Coach Kalen DeBoer announced that he will not have one defensive coordinator; but two in 2024. DeBoer announced the decision that he has hired Maurice Linguist and Colin Hitschler to serve as co-defensive coordinators and secondary coaches.

"We are excited to have Maurice and Colin join our staff at Alabama," DeBoer said in a statement. "Maurice brings both head coaching experience and an established record of success coaching defensive backs. Colin boasts a wealth of knowledge and experience, has a reputation for developing the skill sets of the players he coaches and is an excellent tactician. They are both proven recruiters and outstanding teachers."

Linguist is the former head football coach at the University of Buffalo. Hitschler was the co-defensive coordinator and coaching safeties at Wisconsin in 2023.

"I have always had an incredible admiration for Alabama's long history of success," Linguist said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to help Coach DeBoer continue that winning tradition, while developing our players both on and off the field."

Linguist also has NFL experience – most recently as the cornerbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He is also not new to the SEC, having been the safeties coach at Mississippi State in 2016 and the cornerbacks coach at Texas A&M from 2018 to 2019.

Hitschler knows Alabama well, having spent four seasons on the staff at South Alabama.

"I have worked in this state, and I understand the importance of Alabama football and its winning tradition," Hitschler said. "I am excited to have the chance to continue to uphold the Alabama standard while helping the young men in this program to become the best versions of themselves."

Hitschler was named Football Scoop's Defensive Backs Coach of the Year in 2020 when he was at Cincinnati.

DeBoer – who was most recently at Washington - is having to rebuild the Alabama football staff after taking over for legendary college football coach Nick Saban. If Alabama had overcome Michigan in the college football playoffs semifinal, the two would have coached against each other in last month's national championship game.

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