Michigan football hires former Ohio State RB coach Tony Alford

Michigan is looking at Ohio State in its search for a key football assistant

In the process of rebuilding his staff, Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore is expected to bring Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford for the same position, the school announced this week.

FootballScoop first reported news that Michigan was targeting Alford. 

A former running back himself, Alford has been in the coaching ranks at the position for the past quarter century, and was with the Buckeyes since 2015.

He recruited and coaches six different 1,000-yard running backs at Ohio State and was promoted to the running game coordinator position by head coach Ryan Day two seasons ago.

Alford was the second-longest tenured coach at Ohio State, ranking behind just defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who joined the program in 2014.

Alford will replace the outgoing Mike Hart, a former Michigan running back and RBs coach who departed the program this offseason.

Alford's departure leaves Ohio State with a sudden and prominent vacancy on the coaching staff after starting spring practices.

And it marks another prominent loss to Day's staff this offseason after offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien left the Buckeyes after a few weeks to become head coach at Boston College. Day replaced O'Brien with Chip Kelly to call plays on offense.

Ohio State figures to have one of college football's best backfields this coming season, retaining TreVeyon Henderson in addition to acquiring transfer back Quinshon Judkins, who led the SEC in rushing the last two seasons with Ole Miss, in the transfer portal.

But now their coach is on his way to the Buckeyes' arch-rival.

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