According to the Alabama Athletics personnel directory, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has named his former defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell as inside linebackers coach. Morrell served as a special assistant to the head coach last season.

As a result, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, who doubled as inside linebackers coach, will only serve as coordinator and oversee the defense in 2025. This step is also reflected in the school directory.

These moves coincide with multiple reports Friday that safeties coach Colin Hitschler will not be retained on the staff. With Morrell’s promotion and Wommack’s role change, cornerbacks coach Maurice Linguist is ready to oversee the entire secondary. These moves will keep Alabama at 10 full-time assistant coaches.

DeBoer and Morrell have a long history together. The two were teammates at Sioux Falls and coached together from 2000 to 2009. Morrell joined DeBoer at Fresno State University as safeties coach from 2020-21 and then served as Washington’s defensive coordinator from 2022-23 before following DeBoer to Alabama in an off-field role.

Because the NCAA rule change allowed off-field personnel to train on the field, Morrell began working extensively with the inside linebackers in spring practice. Now he will coach that position full-time, taking over a room that lost Jihaad Campbell to the NFL Draft on Thursday but signed Colorado transfer linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green and expects senior Justin Jefferson to return for another season.

(Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. / Imagn Images)