Alabama Coordinator Expected to Retire

Alabama will be on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator just a season after losing five-year defensive coordinator Pete Golding.

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The Crimson Tide had a news bomb drop on Monday night just before the start of the College Football Playoff National Championship. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is expected to retire from coaching per Chris Low of ESPN.

Just a season after losing five-year defensive coordinator Pete Golding to Ole Miss, Alabama will be hunting for another defensive coordinator. Steele spent one season with the Crimson Tide in the role, although it was his third time in Tuscaloosa.

Steele has spent many years alongside coach Nick Saban. They first coached together when Saban was hired at Alabama in 2007; Steele was his defensive coordinator that season. Steele would remain with Alabama in 2008, where he was the associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and inside linebackers coach.

Steele returned to the Crimson Tide in 2013 as the director of player development. In 2014, his role changed to the linebackers coach.

After spending time in Baton Rouge and Auburn as the defensive coordinator for both Tigers teams, Steele ventured to Miami to be the Hurricanes' defensive coordinator.

Steele ended his career with the Crimson Tide in 2023 in his second stint as defensive coordinator.

Alabama will be on the search for a new defensive coordinator once again. Coach Saban has an affinity for hiring from within the program, and Travaris Robinson could be a likely candidate to replace Steele. Coach Saban also is known to bring back coaches who have spent time in Tuscaloosa before, meaning a hire outside the program should not be ruled out either.

Either way, Crimson Tide fans can expect to see a new face in the booth next season.