Report: Alabama Hiring Former Michigan Assistant Coach
Right before their impending matchup in the College Football Playoff, Alabama football is hiring a former Michigan assistant coach.
According to a report by The Athletic, Alabama is hiring George Helow. He will begin working with the team immediately as the Crimson Tide begins practicing Saturday for the Rose Bowl per the report.
Most recently, Helow worked under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan from 2021-2022 as linebackers coach meaning he has coached some of the Wolverines current players that Alabama will face on Jan 1 in the CFP semifinal. Prior to that, he served as a special teams and linebackers coach at Maryland for one season under former Alabama assistant Mike Locksley.
Helow is not a complete stranger to working for Nick Saban. He is an Ole Miss graduate, but got his college coaching career started at Alabama as a defensive intern in 2012 for a team that won a national title. He also has coaching experience as a graduate assistant and safeties coach at Florida State, Georgia and Colorado State. He also won a national title at Florida State in 2013.
Coaching turnover is a regular occurrence for Saban, but so far, Coleman Hutzler is the only assistant to leave since the season ended. Hutzler was named the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State last week.He coached outside linebackers and special teams for the Crimson Tide.
Helow will likely replace Hutzler as linebackers coach. Saban is scheduled to speak to the media on Monday for the first time since Selection Sunday and will likely clarify the roles of the coaching staff moving forward.