Michigan nabs Ohio State RB coach Tony Alford for the same gig
It took until there was less than one week remaining before the start of spring practice, but Michigan football’s coaching staff has been finalized.
Tony Alford, Ohio State’s longtime running back coach, has left Columbus to take the same position in Ann Arbor under head coach Sherrone Moore. An Ohio State spokesman confirmed to the Free Press Alford has informed the Buckeyes of his departure.
U-M announced the hire late Wednesday afternoon.
“Tony is an elite running backs coach who is an outstanding mentor and example for young men in all aspects of football and life,” Moore said in a released statement. “I know that he will have a profound impact on our running back room and football program. We are excited to have Tony and his wife, Trina, and their boys join the Michigan Football Family.”
He replaces running backs coach Mike Hart, a legend in Ann Arbor whose contract expired after last offseason but ultimately was not retained.
Alford, who had coached Buckeyes backs since 2015 under Urban Meyer and Ryan Day, was the second-longest tenured staffer in Columbus behind only longtime defensive line strong hold Larry Johnson. Alford spent six years at Notre Dame under Brian Kelly and Charlie Weis prior to his most recent run and had stops at Iowa State, Louisville and Washington before then.
Alford’s time coaching running backs at Louisville (200708) came just before Moore arrived there as a graduate assistant (2009-11) and tight ends coach (2012-13) at the start of his career.
Among the star backs Alford help coach for Ohio State: Ezekiel Elliott, J.K. Dobbins and TreVeyon Henderson, and most recently the Buckeyes had wooed former Ole Miss star Quinshon Judkins to pair with Henderson.
Instead, Alford, who is highly regarded as both a recruiter and talent developer, has decided to join the team that’s beat up on his Buckeyes each of the past three seasons.
The Wolverines lost the most decorated running back in the history of the program in Blake Corum, who leaves after three consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 yards of offense and 12 or more touchdowns; most recently he set a program record with 27 scores in the national championship season.
The backfield did appear to get a boost, however, when tailback Donovan Edwards elected to return. Edwards struggled mightily through 14 games last season, he had just 113 carries for 393 yards (3.47 yards per attempt) and three scores.
But in the national championship game, Edwards took each of his first two touches for scores from more than 40 yards out and finished with six carries for 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
He’ll be paired with Kalel Mullings, and likely redshirt freshman Benjamin Hall whose drawn rave reviews.
Per reports, Alford is expected to be one of the highest paid running backs coaches in the country.