Michigan RBs coach Tony Alford discusses recruiting approach, relationships in Ohio

The Michigan Wolverines are a few weeks into a new running backs coach Tony Alford after three years under Mike Hart. One of the benefits of the Alford hire was said to be his ability to recruit elite talent into the program.

After nine years at Ohio State and six at Notre Dame, Alford has completed the trilogy of midwestern blue blood programs. He’s still adjusting to the new position as he learns about Michigan but is finding a level of comfortability.

“It’s a little bit of a different pitch for me right now,” Alford said on Wednesday. “Because what can you talk about academically speaking? What can you talk about with the school and stuff? I’ve walked on campus once. There’s a north campus…I just learned that, too.

“I’m still learning a lot. I’m still learning a lot about this place. But the one thing I can tell you about recruiting is I think I know people. And it starts back with the head coach and staff and the men that he’s brought in here on staff. Not just the full-time coaches, and I’m talking about auxiliary staff and support staff because they’re unbelievable people.”

Alford’s approach on the trail is not at all unlike his other stops before Michigan in addition to how he would want his kids to be treated.

“Just telling the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts,” Alford said. “Sometimes there’s people on the outside that don’t know all the angles and all the different things that lead up to conversations. And they can have their opinions. But that’s what they are, opinions. They don’t know what they know. But I just try to be honest with kids and tell them this is what it is. Try the best I can to have unconditional relationships.

“Just because you don’t do something that I want or I don’t do something that you want that means that relationship is dissolved. I’ve got three sons. A lot of times they don’t do what I want either. I’m not going anywhere and still gonna love them and guide them the best you can and be the voice of reason. Teach them how to grow. And I try to be organic with those types of things. Hopefully my message is being delivered as I would like to. I’m sure I failed at times but do the best I can with kids.

“I think if you just look at it holistically, I just want someone to treat — I want to treat kids as I want someone to treat my sons. Sometimes that’s tough love, sometimes that can be harsh, it can hurt. Something to help them grow as people, help them grow as men. As coaches, we have an amazing responsibility to help these young people grow. And we just get to do that in the name of football.

“If I was in a different walk of life, a different job setting, maybe the kids wouldn’t listen as much. But if we’re football guys and the kids walk in and we have certain emblems on our shirt, they may listen a little more. You may grab their attention — you have their attention for whatever it is. I think there’s a message that can be delivered and deliver that message however I see fit.”

Michigan will find itself in plenty of recruiting battles for top talent, especially at the running back position. The Wolverines’ new assistant laid out the No. 1 trait he looks for in his backs that he is willing to battle for.

“The first thing is I want guys that are tough,” Alford said. “Toughness is a big deal with guys that have a lot of respect for this game. A lot of respect for hard work, a lot of respect for their teammates, and it’s not about them. The physical traits are the physical traits; change direction, size, all those things. But I think your attitude is paramount. And I want guys that are tough guys. Guys that are mentally tough guys. A lot of times the film doesn’t show that — that takes time to get to know someone and ask questions. And that gets spent intimate time getting to know people and the people around them. Parents and the third uncle removed, the friends and things of that nature.

“So I guess if you were to say what was the one trait that for me is overriding? It’s toughness.”

Alford will also be a key piece in helping Michigan pillage the state of Ohio for talent. The former Buckeye assistant still has those recruiting relationships are still intact with high school coaches.

“The ones I’ve talked to have been great,” Alford said. “The ones I’ve talked to have been fantastic. People can within the Ohio State organization that I was close to, those relationships have not been severed, at least to my knowledge they have not been. The high school relationships with coaches, they understand my sons played out there and those relationships have not been severed.

“It’s about relationships. There’s some great, great high school football in that state. Phenomenal coaches in that state. But it goes back to again, one of your questions again, is what message are you delivering players? To Young People? Whether you’re at Ohio State or at Michigan, you’re at Notre Dame or at USC — what message are you delivering that can help people grow?”

Despite what some would categorize as a chilly exit from Ohio State, you will never hear Alford say a bad word about his former employer, especially on the recruiting trail.

“If anyone ever asks me to say something negative about my previous place, then that’s never going to happen,” Alford said. “Because I have nothing but the utmost respect for what that program has always been, was, and will continue to be. Nothing but great respect for the people that helped me grow my career. Not just my career, but help me grow personally and helped the kids grow. I’m indebted to that.”