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Report: Alabama adds former Michigan assistant George Helow to staff ahead of CFP Semifinal

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•12/14/23
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Former Michigan linebackers coach George Helow, now at Alabama, worked with U-M D.C. Jesse Minter last year. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Former Michigan linebacker coach George Helow has reportedly been hired by Alabama, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

Helow and the Michigan program mutually parted ways in February. Helow spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons on the Wolverines staff.

It’s unclear what role he will occupy on the Alabama staff as of yet.

The news is interesting in that Alabama will face Michigan in a College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1, and Helow will likely be able to provide some valuable intelligence. How useful that might be remains to be seen, but it’s a definite bit of gamesmanship in a year that has featured plenty of it.

Michigan, of course, got into hot water and had to suspend coach Jim Harbaugh for three games over an alleged sign-stealing scandal.

For years coaches have tried to gain advantages against opponents, and hiring a former staffer just before a meeting is certainly one way to do so.

Helow joined Harbaugh’s staff in 2021. He helped Michigan to a top-20 ranking in total defense and scoring defense, ranking eighth in the latter category. Linebacker Josh Ross led the team in tackles (106) and picked up third team All-Big Ten honors as well as the team’s Roger Zatkoff Award.

Under Helow, Ross set career-highs in tackles and tackles for loss. Junior Colson earned Freshman All-America honors after finishing fourth on the team in tackles.

Helow originally joined the Michigan football staff as linebackers coach after spending the 2020 season as the special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at the University of Maryland. 

Alabama and Michigan are set to meet in the Rose Bowl, a College Football Playoff semifinal site this year, on Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ET. Michigan is the No. 1 seed in the playoff, while Alabama is the No. 4 seed.

The two programs have previously met five times, with Alabama owning a 3-2 edge in the series.

The last meeting came in 2020, when Alabama beat Michigan 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl.