Three days after it was first reported, the lone hole on Nick Saban‘s Alabama coaching staff has been filled.
In a press release, UA announced that Mel Tucker has been hired as Saban’s defensive backs coach. Tucker will also hold the title of assistant head coach.
Tucker has a history with Saban, who hired him as a grad assistant at Michigan State nearly two decades ago.
“He is an outstanding coach all the way around and really does an excellent job in terms of teaching the players,” Saban said in a statement. “When you look at his college and NFL experience, his resume is very impressive, and he’ll be a positive addition to our defensive staff. Mel’s experience with the secondary will allow us to move Kirby back to coaching the inside linebackers, which has been most effective for our defensive coordinator. We’re pleased and happy to welcome Mel and his family to Tuscaloosa.”
Tucker has been away from the college game for the last decade, having spent time on NFL staffs with the Cleveland Browns (2005-07, defensive backs; 2008, defensive coordinator), Jacksonville Jaguars (2009-12, defensive coordinator) and Chicago Bears (2013-14, defensive coordinator). His last job at the collegiate level came in 2004 as the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State.
Prior to that, the Cleveland, Oh., native coached the secondary at OSU (2001-03), LSU (2000) and Miami of Ohio (1999).
“I’ve known Coach Saban since I was 17 years old and he recruited me when he was the head coach at Toledo,” said Tucker. “He gave me my first job at Michigan State and most of what I learned as a defensive backs coach came from him. He has always been extremely loyal to me and my family, and is a trusted friend and mentor.
“We’ve become big Crimson Tide fans through the years and our family actually went to the bowl games against Michigan State and Notre Dame. When I was invited to speak here at one of the coaching clinics, I really got to see first-hand how special the University of Alabama is and I’m honored to join Coach Saban’s staff. I have the utmost respect this program and what Coach Saban stands for as a man and as a coach.”
In addition to Tucker, UA also announce the hiring of former UAB assistant Jody Wright. This is a return for Wright as he spent 201 as a graduate assistant with the Tide and 2011-12 as an offensive analyst.