Alabama DB coach Colin Hitschler not expected to return in 2025

Alabama co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Colin Hitschler is not expected to return for a second season with the Crimson Tide in 2025, BamaOnLine has learned.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news.

Hitschler joined Kalen DeBoer’s first coaching staff at Alabama in January, and he coached the Crimson Tide’s safeties during the 2024 campaign. UA’s Game 1 starters, Malachi Moore and Keon Sabb, both suffered injuries and were not able to finish the season, while three players in the room transferred – DeVonta Smith, Tony Mitchell and Peyton Woodyard.

Hitschler coached from the booth in his first and only year at Alabama, which helped defensive coordinator Kane Wommack while making the calls from the Crimson Tide’s sideline.

“Probably the best gameday mind adjustment-wise that I’ve been around,” Wommack said this season. “He sees things up in the box, does a great job of being kind of my eyes and ears up there from a communication standpoint on gameday. 

“I’ve been around some really special defensive coaches over the years, and he’s probably at the top of the list in terms of his ability to create value as a defensive staff on gameday. He is somebody I certainly lean on and rely on up there.”

Hitschler arrived at Alabama after spending the 2023 season in the same roles at Wisconsin. He followed Luke Fickell from Cincinnati, where he spent five years. Prior to that, Hitschler worked at South Alabama from 2014-17 and ended his tenure in Mobile, Alabama by coaching safeties on Wommack’s coaching staff. His first FBS coaching job was as a grad assistant at Arkansas State in 2013. Hitschler’s first job was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009.

With Hitschler moving on, Alabama is expected to promote Chuck Morrell to linebackers coach. Wommack is now likely to oversee the entire defense, while Alabama co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist will coach the entire Tide secondary.

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