Kevin Steele Back With Bama Football

Kevin Steele, who previously served as linebackers coach under Nick Saban at Alabama, is returning to the Crimson Tide football staff as director of player personnel. Steele, who spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons on Saban’s defensive staff at Alabama, comes to UA following three years as Clemson’s defensive coordinator (2009-11).

With a new NCAA directive that relaxes restrictions on recruiting by staff members who are not on-the-field coaches, it had been rumored that Alabama Coach Nick Saban would try to bring Kevin Steele back to Alabama. Steele had been out of coaching for a year.

“We are excited to have Kevin back on our staff,” said Saban. “He did an excellent job here previously, and he knows our program from a recruiting standpoint as well as anyone. His organizational skills and people skills make him a perfect fit for this role. As recruiting in college football has evolved through the years, this position is one of the most important on our staff.”

At Alabama, Steele’s main charge will be to direct the recruiting efforts for the Crimson Tide. He will also assist with camps, clinics and other football-related events. In addition, his responsibilities will include assisting with the administration and operation of the football program.

“I’m glad to be back at Alabama, and I’m looking forward to a new challenge in terms of this role,” said Steele. “I’ve worked at some great schools through the years, and nobody does it better than Coach Saban when it comes to running a program top to bottom. I’ve got family in the state and we love Tuscaloosa, so we are thrilled to be back. This is such a special place, and I look forward to doing my part to help continue the success of the football program.”

Prior to Clemson and Alabama, Steele worked at Florida State under Bobby Bowden for four seasons (2003-06). Steele went to Florida State after serving as the head coach at Baylor University from 1999-2002.

Steele coached linebackers for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL from 1995-98 before taking the head job at Baylor. He has held assistant coaching jobs at Nebraska under Tom Osborne (1989-94), Tennessee (1987-88), Oklahoma State (1984-86) and New Mexico State (1983).

The Dillon, S.C., native is a 1981 graduate of the University of Tennessee. He spent his freshman year at Furman before transferring to Tennessee, where he was a member of Johnny Majors’ 1978 and 1979 squads. He was a student assistant coach in 1980 and then a graduate assistant the following year (1981) before being promoted to his first full-time position as outside linebackers coach in 1982.

Steele and his wife, Linda, have one son (Gordon) and one daughter (Caroline).