Co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Alabama Colin Hitschler The Crimson Tide is not expected to return for a second season in 2025, BamaOnLine has learned.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel was first to report the news.

Hitschler joined Kalen DeBoerHe was Alabama’s first coaching staff in January and coached the Crimson Tide’s safeties during the 2024 season. U.A.’s Game 1 starter, Malachi Moore And Keon SabbBoth suffered injuries and could not finish the season, while three players in the room changed – DeVonta Smith, Tony Mitchell And Peyton Woodyard.

Hitschler coached from the locker room in his first and only year at Alabama, which benefited the defensive coordinator Kane Wommack while making the calls from the Crimson Tide sideline.

“Probably the best game-day mentality adjustment I’ve ever experienced,” Wommack said this season. “He sees things in the penalty area and is a kind of eyes and ears guide for me on matchday from a communication perspective.

“I’ve known some really special defensive coaches over the years and he’s probably at the top of the list when it comes to his ability to add value on game day as a defensive team. He’s someone I can definitely lean on and rely on up there.”

Hitschler came to Alabama after spending the 2023 season in the same roles at Wisconsin. He followed Luke Fickell from Cincinnati, where he spent five years. Previously, Hitschler worked at South Alabama from 2014 to 2017 and finished his tenure in Mobile, Ala., coaching safeties on Wommack’s coaching staff. His first FBS coaching job was as an assistant at Arkansas State in 2013. Hitschler’s first job was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009.

If Hitschler moves on, Alabama is expected to move up Chuck Morrell to linebackers coach. Wommack will now likely oversee the entire defense while Alabama is co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Maurice linguist will coach the entire Tide secondary.

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