And then were no more vacancies.
Alabama has officially hired former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker as its defensive backs coach and assistant head coach.
Tucker’s first job in coaching was as a graduate assistant under Alabama head coach Nick Saban when the coach was at Michigan State, and also coached under Saban for one season at LSU in 2000. Following that one season in Baton Rouge, Tucker coached the defensive backs at Ohio State for three seasons, winning a national championship with the team in 2002.
“I’ve known Coach Saban since I was 17 years old and he recruited me when he was the head coach at Toledo,” Tucker said. “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.”
After leaving the college ranks, Tucker was a defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, Cleveland and Chicago in the NFL, and should be a needed change for an Alabama secondary that has struggled over the past two seasons.
“[Mel] is an outstanding coach all the way around and really does an excellent job in terms of teaching the players,” Saban said. “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.”
Saban also said that Tucker’s experience with the secondary allows the team to move defensive coordinator Kirby Smart back to his position of coaching inside linebackers, which had been reported with this hiring.
All of Alabama’s defensive coaching vacancies have now been filled.
The program also officially hired Jody Wright to its director of player personnel. Wright fills the void left by Tyler Siskey, who became the wide receivers coach at South Alabama.
Wright rejoins Alabama for this position after serving as a graduate assistant in 2010 and as an offensive analyst from 2011 to 2012. He was also a graduate assistant and eventually the director of football operations at Mississippi State for five years.
After spending the 2014 season as the assistant head coach and running backs coach at UAB, the shuttering of the football team left him without a job and an opportunity back at Alabama arose.
“We thought very highly of [Wright] when he was with us before, and when this position became available, he was the first person that came to mind,” Saban said. “Jody is extremely well-thought of in the state of Alabama and throughout the southeast when you talk to anyone involved with football at the college or high school level. He is also very organized and has excellent people skills, which make him a great fit for this role.”
As the director of player personnel, Wright will be responsible for organizing Alabama’s recruiting strategy. He will also, per the release from Alabama athletics, work with compliance regarding initial eligibility and assist with coaching clinics, camps and other on-campus events.
“Growing up as a coach’s son in Pickens County, I have always had a great respect for the passion and tradition at Alabama,” Wright said. “It was a dream of mine as a kid to work at the University of Alabama one day. Coach Saban gave me that chance in 2010 and I’m humbled and excited to work for him at Alabama again. I look forward to doing my part to continue the tradition of success at the best program in the country for the best coach in college football.”
After the departure of two defensive coaches and the director of player personnel, Alabama is fully staffed and fully prepared to move forward to National Signing Day, spring football and next season.
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