Report: Alabama hiring former Michigan State, NFL linebacker Max Bullough as assistant

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have added former Michigan State and NFL linebacker Max Bullough as an analyst, per Mike Rodak of AL.com.

Rodak reported the news on Monday that the former Houston Texans linebacker — who had been working with the Crimson Tide over the last three seasons as a graduate assistant — was taking on a bigger role in Tuscaloosa.

“Alabama has added Max Bullough as a football analyst. The former Michigan State and Houston Texans LB had been a graduate assistant for the Tide the past three seasons, working with inside linebackers,” tweeted Rodak. “Alabama also re-hired Jake Long as an analyst, as had been reported.”

Additionally, Rodak confirmed prior reports that Alabama is also bringing back Jake Long as an analyst after he previously was a member of the team’s staff.

Alas, Nick Saban must believe Max Bullough has a bright future in coaching, as the 30-year old former linebacker is taking on an enlarged role. It’ll be interesting to see how far he can climb among the ranks, but there’s confidence in his ability.

Kevin Steele accepts Alabama defensive coordinator job

Moreover, Kevin Steele accepted the defensive coordinator job at Alabama earlier this week after serving as the defensive coordinator at Miami this past season. 

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 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. Cristobal will now have to replace both of his coordinators in his seconds season after he fired OC Josh Gattis last month.

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.