Report: Alabama to Hire Buffalo Head Coach as Defensive Assistant

Kalen DeBoer is expected to add a second former head coach to his first defensive staff at Alabama.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Another piece of Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer's staff appears to be filled, as ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported on Tuesday afternoon that Buffalo head coach Maurice Linguist would be joining the Crimson Tide's staff as a defensive assistant.

Linguist served as the head coach at Buffalo for three years, posting a record of 14-23 during his time up north and winning the 2022 Camelia Bowl in his lone postseason appearance.

Prior to his time at Buffalo, Linguist, 39, served as the defensive backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys, Texas A&M, Minnesota, Mississippi State and more. It is expected that he will serve a similar role on DeBoer's staff.

Linguist is the second active head coach in as many days to be expected to come to Alabama in an assistant role, joining South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack, who is expected to be Alabama's defensive coordinator.

Linguist's ties to the SEC has will be essential as DeBoer continues to build a staff with the capabilities to recruit in the south.

With the report of Linguist's expected hire, DeBoer is now only missing a few coaches in order to fill out his entire new staff. He is expected to bring offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard, tight ends coach Nick Sheriden, and offensive line coach Scott Huff from Washington.

DeBoer is also expected to retain running backs coach Robert Gillespie, defensive line coach Freddie Roach and strength coach David Ballou from Nick Saban's 2023 staff at Alabama.

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