ESPN: Alabama has appointed another co-defensive coordinator

According to ESPN, Kalen DeBoer is expanding his Alabama coaching staff by hiring Buffalo’s Maurice Linguist to lead the Crimson Tide’s defense.

Linguist will serve as Alabama’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, according to a source.

Linguist, who recently completed his third season as Buffalo’s coach, will be able to draw on a wealth of defensive back coaching experience. He coached the Dallas Cowboys’ cornerbacks in 2020 and has experience working with college secondaries at nine different teams.

Linguist had worked as Michigan’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach before taking over at Buffalo. Last year, he was a top candidate for Cincinnati’s head coaching position.

DeBoer hired South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack as his defensive coordinator on Monday.

Linguist formerly coached defensive backs at Texas A&M (2018-19), Minnesota (2017), Mississippi State (2016), and Iowa State (2014-15). Linguists are also highly respected as recruiters.

DeBoer, who replaced Nick Saban at Alabama, is assembling a team that includes coaches from his Washington staff, Saban’s former staff, and Wommack and Linguist, both of whom were head coaches in the previous three seasons.

Linguist, 39, went 14-23 overall as Buffalo’s head coach. He played safety for Baylor.