Alabama football appears to have filled the coaching staff vacancy following the departure of Colin Hitschler. Chuck Morrell, who worked as a special assistant to the head coach for the Crimson Tide in 2024, is listed as linebackers coach on UA’s staff website.

Meanwhile, Kane Wommack lost a title. The Tide’s defensive coordinator is no longer listed as the team’s inside linebackers coach.

Morrell had already been active in that position after the NCAA lifted its restrictions on on-field coaches.

“He’s a consummate professional,” Wommack said of Morrell in August. “A brilliant defensive mind. Does a great job with those linebackers. He spends a lot of time with these guys. And for me it was great – for me he had been with Kalen for four years, so he knew what to expect and how we do things from a scheduling perspective – he was really my right-hand man when it came down to these things.

“Very happy he’s on the field. I’m really excited about this rule change because it allows us to do some things where he can work hands-on with the linebackers and allows me to address some of the needs of our defense at a macro level.”

Morrell has worked for DeBoer in various roles throughout his career. Like Alabama’s head coach, Morrell played football in Sioux Falls, where he served as defensive coordinator under DeBoer and later joined the staffs of Fresno State and Washington before coming to Alabama.

Hitschler will not return to Alabama for a second season after being assured as coach in 2024. He held the title of co-defensive coordinator, and his departure leaves DB coach Maurice Linguist in the only co-DC spot on the roster.

Alabama finished the 2024 season 9-4 with a loss in the ReliaQuest Bowl.