Alabama football: Kevin Steele contract length, figures revealed

Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has been signed, sealed and delivered to Tuscaloosa.

Nick Saban got his guy, as Steele’s contract to takeover the Alabama defense was approved on Monday. Mike Rodak of AL.com shared the details via Twitter, including the fact that Steele will be getting a three-year deal worth $1.9 million per season.

New DC Kevin Steele gets a 3-year deal (thru 2025) from Alabama at $1.9 million/year, Greg Byrne tells UA compensation committee. Deal was approved.

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) March 13, 2023

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“New DC Kevin Steele gets a 3-year deal (thru 2025) from Alabama at $1.9 million/year, Greg Byrne tells UA compensation committee,” tweeted Rodak. “Deal was approved.”

A 39-year coaching veteran, Steele has a long resume with a ton of SEC experience. Alabama, Auburn, and LSU have all had Steele as their defensive coordinator at one point or another. That includes two different stints in Tuscaloosa during Saban’s tenure (2007-08 and 2013-14), being there for a total of four years.

Steele replaces Pete Golding, who left this offseason to become the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss. He takes over an Alabama defense that finished 10th in scoring defense (18.2 points allowed per game) and 13th in total defense (318.2 yards allowed) in 2022. 

Miami, where Steele spent his 2022, finished 5-7 this past year in Mario Cristobal’s inaugural season. The Hurricanes defense struggled under Steele’s direction, finishing 13th in the ACC with 5.9 yards allowed per play.

Ironically, Steele was the first defensive coordinator that Nick Saban hired after taking over as the Crimson Tide’s head coach. He helped Alabama to a Sugar Bowl appearance in 2008 before leaving to join Dabo Swinney’s first staff at Clemson in 2009. There Kevin Steele remained for the next three seasons before returning to Alabama in 2013 as the director of player personnel. 

Steele also has experience as a head coach at Baylor from 1999-2002. The Bears were 9-36 overall and 1-31 in Big 12 games under Steele’s direction, resulting in his firing in the middle of his fourth season.

Everything is now set in motion regarding Kevin Steele. Alabama is elated to have him back, and Nick Saban is ready to chase another title.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this article.