Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer fired safeties coach Colin Hitschler on Friday, as first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

The move is significant after Hitschler spent just one season with the program. The Crimson Tide finished 9-4 after a bowl loss to Michigan, securing its first season without double-digit wins since 2007 – Nick Saban’s first year at the helm. DeBoer is making significant personnel changes after this disappointing campaign.

This news is significant for Wisconsin because Hitschler was one of Luke Fickell’s top assistants and leading recruiters before leaving the Badgers for the Crimson Tide after the 2023 season. The veteran assistant coached under Fickell in Cincinnati as a quality control coach (2018), senior defensive assistant (2019), safeties coach (2020-21) and co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach (2022). He then followed Fickell to Wisconsin, where he held the same title as co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach (2023).

Hitschler was a big loss when he went to the Crimson Tide. He was the leading recruiter for the Badgers’ top class with 2024 additions OT Kevin Heywood, RB Dilin Jones, DL Ernest Willor Jr. and CB Omilio Agard, while also coaching a strong safety group.

https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1875192603429511596

Wisconsin has hired Alex Grinch to replace Hitschler for the 2024 season. Grinch has since left to serve as defensive coordinator under Scott Frost at UCF. Then last week, the Badgers promoted assistant defensive line coach Jack Cooper to fill the safeties coach position.

Despite filling the position, a reunion with Hitschler cannot be ruled out. The veteran assistant spent most of his coaching career with Fickell. This connection could lead to a support position with the chance to quickly return to a primary coaching role on the field.

Fickell is still working to install his program at Wisconsin and recreate the success he experienced in Cincinnati. Proven assistants and experienced recruiters like Hitschler should be key pieces of this puzzle.

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The story originally appeared on Badgers Wire