LSU has a new defensive coordinator from Alabama, but it isn’t who it was rumored to be.

Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele is officially the new defensive coordinator for the Tigers, the team announced Tuesday night.

There was some speculation that Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart would make a lateral move and join the Crimson Tide’s SEC West rival. In fact, NOLA.com reported Tuesday that there was “mutual interest” between both parties. But instead of having to replace a defensive coordinator, Alabama now has to find a new linebackers coach.

Steele was in his second term with Alabama as he moved onto the sidelines in the 2014 season after serving as the director of player personnel for the team in 2013. He was also Alabama’s first defensive coordinator under head coach Nick Saban in 2007.

After that first season with the Crimson Tide, he became Clemson’s defensive coordinator from 2009-2012. He held his only head coaching position at Baylor from 1999-2002

LSU head coach Les Miles called it a “great” hire in a prepared statement and listed many of the high-profile coaches for whom Steele has worked, conveniently omitting Saban’s name.

“Kevin has had a very successful coaching career, one that has seen him coach alongside some of the top coaches in the game,” Miles said in a statement. “He won a national title with Tom Osborne at Nebraska, coached with Bobby Bowden at Florida State, and coached in the NFL with one of the great defensive coaches in Dom Capers.

“He has a great defensive mind and he’s an outstanding recruiter. He knows our players and our system and his knowledge of the SEC and the SEC Western Division makes him a great fit. We are very excited the Kevin will be joining our staff.”

Under Steele, Alabama’s linebackers had a solid year with the play of senior leader Trey DePriest and emerging linebacking star Reggie Ragland. Alabama will have to fill Steele’s spot to help Reuben Foster and the other linebackers prepare to fill DePriest’s role.

His pay for the promotion to LSU has yet to be announced, but Steele was the 21st highest-paid assistant coach this season, making $702,750. Former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis was the fourth highest paid assistant last season making $1.3 million, right behind LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron who ranked third in salary. Chavis left for Texas A&M earlier in the offseason, which created the opening for Steele at LSU.

Steele will be officially introduced as the LSU defensive coordinator at a press conference Wednesday.