Buckeyes RB coach Tony Alford leaving for same position at Michigan
COLUMBUS — Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford has been with the program for nearly a decade.
Now though, he is jumping to the other side of the greatest rivalry in all of college football. Alford is set to become the next running backs coach at Michigan, according to On3’s Pete Nakos and others.
New Michigan coach Sherrone Moore targeted Alford to replace departing Wolverines tailback coach Mike Hart. Now the move is happening.
Alford has been with the Buckeyes since 2015, going 5-3 against Michigan as an assistant coach. He was hired by Urban Meyer and was retained in 2019 under Ryan Day.
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The former Notre Dame running backs coach has coached Ezekiel Elliott, Mike Weber, JK Dobbins, TreVeyon Henderson and plenty of other star tailbacks for the Buckeyes during his tenure. All of those backs have eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, and Dobbins topped 2,000 yards on the ground during the 2019 campaign.
But this 2024 season was expected to be among the best of Alford’s tenure. Henderson passed on the NFL to return to Ohio State, and the Buckeyes added former Ole Miss star Quinshon Judkins to the loaded backfield. Both players have Heisman Trophy potential. Third-year back Dallan Hayden and a pair of freshmen tailbacks will also be in that talent-laden room at Ohio State.
Alford, though, won’t be around to coach any of them. He’s leaving to become the next running backs coach at Michigan.
And the incredible rivalry is adding another insane wrinkle.
Counting Down
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 171 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 262 days
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