Report: Kalen DeBoer to Add Colin Hitschler to Alabama Coaching Staff

Hitschler most recently worked as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Wisconsin.

Kalen DeBoer has found another piece for his Alabama coach staff. 

Wisconsin co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Colin Hitschler will be joining the Crimson Tide as first reported by ESPN's Pete Thamel. 

Hitschler spent the last season at Wisconsin under Luke Fickell after working for him at Cincinnati from 2018 to 2022, working his way up from a defensive analyst to co-defensive coordinator. Alabama faced Hitschler's defense in the 2021 College Football Playoff. That season, the Bearcats ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense (16.5) and No. 10 in total defense (318.4 yards per game.)

He worked with new Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack at South Alabama from 2016-2017. He also began as a defensive analyst with the Jaguars before eventually being promoted to safeties coach. 

Hitschler began his coaching career in the NFL as a training camp assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 before moving on to working for the Kansas City Chiefs in player personnel in 2010.

It is unclear exactly what role he will play on the staff. DeBoer has already hired Wommack as defensive coordinator, Maurice Linguist as secondary coach and retained Freddie Roach as defensive line coach on the defensive side. Hitschler could coach linebackers or specialize in either safeties or cornerbacks. 

Overall, DeBoer's staff is getting closer to fully coming together with all the offensive coaches already filled out with Ryan Grubb at offensive coordinator, JaMarcus Washington as wide receivers coach, Scott Huff as offensive line coach, Nick Sheridan as tight ends coach and retaining Robert Gillespie at running backs coach.

See also:

Alabama Football Welcomes Washington Quarterback