Defensive Assistants Maurice Linguist, Colin Hitschler Officially Join Staff
New Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Kalen DeBoer announced on Monday that defensive assistants Maurice Linguist and Colin Hitschler have officially joined the staff.
"We are excited to have Maurice and Colin join our staff at Alabama," DeBoer said in a press release. "Maurice brings both head coaching experience and an established record of success coaching defensive backs. Colin boasts a wealth of knowledge and experience, has a reputation for developing the skill sets of the players he coaches and is an excellent tactician. They are both proven recruiters and outstanding teachers."
Linguist served as the head coach at Buffalo for three years, posting a record of 14-23 during his time up north and winning the 2022 Camelia Bowl in his lone postseason appearance.
Prior to his time at Buffalo, Linguist, 39, served as the defensive backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, Texas A&M in 2018-19, Minnesota in 2017, Mississippi State in 2016 and more. He will now serve a similar role on DeBoer's staff. Linguist's experience goes back to when he himself was in pads as the Dallas, Texas native played football at Baylor as a safety.
His past three seasons with the Buffalo Bulls were his first head coaching experience and the first time officially given more than a defensive back role.
"I have always had an incredible admiration for Alabama's long history of success," Linguist said in the release. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to help Coach DeBoer continue that winning tradition, while developing our players both on and off the field."
Hitschler, 37, spent the last season at Wisconsin under Luke Fickell after working for him at Cincinnati from 2018 to 2022, working his way up from a defensive analyst to co-defensive coordinator. Alabama faced Hitschler's defense in the 2021 College Football Playoff. That season, the Bearcats ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense (16.5) and No. 10 in total defense (318.4 yards per game).
He worked with new Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack at South Alabama from 2016-2017. He also began as a defensive analyst with the Jaguars before eventually being promoted to safeties coach.
Hitschler began his coaching career in the NFL as a training camp assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 before moving on to working for the Kansas City Chiefs in player personnel in 2010.
"I have worked in this state, and I understand the importance of Alabama football and its winning tradition," Hitschler said in the release. "I am excited to have the chance to continue to uphold the Alabama standard while helping the young men in this program to become the best versions of themselves."
