TUSCALOOSA – Alabama officially announced the previously reported hiring of new offensive and defensive coordinators in Tuscaloosa.
Kevin Steele, a 39-year coaching veteran, will take over the defense after Pete Golding left to take the same position at Ole Miss. Tommy Reese, who has been at Notre Dame for the past six years and worked as offensive coordinator for the Irish for the last three, will call the offense and serve as quarterbacks coach under head coach Nick Saban. Alabama has also hired Austin Armstrong to coach inside linebackers.
“We are excited to bring in such a gifted group of coaches to develop our players both on and off the field,” Saban said. “Kevin, Tommy and Austin have a great mix of energy, enthusiasm and experience that will be a tremendous asset to our program. They are all excellent teachers of the game and fantastic recruiters who bring a wealth of experience and resources to our staff.”
Steele was the defensive coordinator at Miami in 2022 where his Hurricanes finished 65th in the nation in total defense. He was out of coaching in 2021 after being briefly named interim head coach at Tennessee between the firing of Jeremy Pruitt and the hiring of Josh Heupel. Steele spent five years at Auburn as the defensive coordinator under Gus Malzahn.
This will be the third time that Steele was worked under Saban.
“My history with Coach Saban goes back a long time and what he has built here at Alabama is truly amazing,” Steele said. “I understand the high expectations of both Coach Saban and the program, and I am looking forward to helping continue that success.”
Rees comes to Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide is looking to replace a Heisman-winning quarterback. He said is is looking forward to the opportunity.
“I have the utmost respect for what Coach Saban has built at Alabama and the tradition of this program,” Rees said. “I’m excited to have this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to getting in the meeting room and on the practice field with this team.”
Rees has only been coaching since 2015 as a graduate assistant at Northwestern for one year. He then moved to offensive assistant with the San Diego Chargers for a year before returning to his alma mater to coach quarterbacks at Notre Dame in 2017.
Amrstrong, the Tide’s new inside linebackers coach, is coming off a stint at Southern Miss where he was the youngest defensive coordinator in the nation.
“Growing up in West Alabama the opportunity to coach at The University of Alabama is a dream come true,” Armstrong said. “I have admired what Coach Saban has built in Tuscaloosa and the long history of tradition and success this program has enjoyed. I am excited to get to work as we continue the legacy of success that is synonymous with Alabama football.”
Alabama is preparing to start spring football, with the annual A-Day scrimmage scheduled for April 22.
