Jedd Fisch fills up the opening UW coaching team with ex Alabama assistant

Ryan Grubb isn’t the only coach to trade Tuscaloosa, Alabama for Seattle this week.

New UW coach Jedd Fisch officially completed out his on-field staff on Friday by appointing Robert Bala, who coached inside linebackers at Alabama in 2023, to manage the same position group for Washington next season.

Bala was previously announced as Western Michigan’s defensive coordinator on February 1.

The Oceanside, California native spent one season on Nick Saban’s coaching staff. Under Bala’s supervision, linebackers Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell recorded 67 and 66 tackles, respectively, ranking second and third on the team. Lawson recorded three sacks, while Campbell had an interception and two fumble recoveries.

With Lawson and Campbell at the heart of the Crimson Tide defense, Alabama went 12-2 to win the Southeastern Conference before falling 27-20 to eventual national champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Alabama’s defense allowed only 19 points per game, ranking 16th in the country.

Kalen DeBoer, the incoming Alabama coach and former Washington coach, did not retain Bala for the upcoming season. He was replaced by William Inge, a former UW linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator who had followed DeBoer to Tuscaloosa.

Bala worked as Hugh Freeze’s defensive analyst at Liberty for a year before joining Saban at Alabama. Previous venues include his alma college, Southern Utah, where he played two seasons for the Thunderbirds, Ottawa University of Arizona, Palomar College and Snow Junior College. He also has NFL experience, having interned with the Oakland Raiders.

Bala’s employment fills the final seat on Fisch’s defensive staff, which also includes defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi, secondary coach John Richardson, and defensive assistant Vinnie Sunseri.

Washington’s linebacker corps is one of the few to retain many of its 2023 contributors. Rising seniors Carson Bruener and Alphonzo Tuputala concluded the season with the third and fourth most tackles on the squad, respectively, while important special teamer Drew Fowler will return in 2024.

The club will have to replace Edefuan Ulofoshio, one of college football’s finest coverage linebackers in 2023, and Ralen Goforth, both of whom have exceeded their eligibility. Redshirt freshmen Deven Bryant and Jordan Whitney, incoming freshman Khmori House, former San Jose State transfer Bryun Parham, and former Arizona special teams player Anthony Ward round out the UW linebacker corps.