On Monday, Kalen DeBoer, the head football coach at Alabama, announced the appointment of Maurice Linguist and Colin Hitschler as co-defensive coordinators and secondary coaches.
Maurice and Colin are a welcome addition to the Alabama staff, according to DeBoer. “Maurice offers a track record of success teaching defensive backs in addition to head coaching experience. Colin is a master strategist, a man of great knowledge and experience, and he has a track record of helping his players improve their skill sets. They are both excellent teachers and seasoned recruiters.
After serving as Wisconsin’s co-defensive coordinator and head coach of the safeties, Hitschler joins the Crimson Tide in 2023. Linguist has been the head coach at the University of Buffalo for the past three years.
Buffalo had a 7-6 record in 2022 under Linguist’s leadership, which includes a 5-3 record in Mid-American Conference play. Only the third bowl win in programme history, a 23-21 triumph over Georgia Southern in the Camellia Bowl sealed the year.
Linguist remarked, “I have always had a great deal of respect for Alabama’s lengthy history of success.” “I’m excited about the chance to support Coach DeBoer in carrying on that winning legacy and helping our players grow both on and off the pitch.”
The 2020 NFL season was spent by Linguist coaching the Dallas Cowboys’ cornerbacks. He oversaw a secondary that gave up the fewest passing first downs in the league (180), but forced ten interceptions.
At nine programmes, linguists have worked with college secondaries. He coached safeties at Mississippi State (2016), defensive backs at Iowa State (2014–15), cornerbacks at Texas A&M (2018–19), and defensive backs at Minnesota (2017) before moving on to the NFL. Prior to coaching safeties at James Madison (2009–11) and defensive backs at Buffalo (2012–13), he held his first full-time position at Valdosta State (2008).
The linguist started as a graduate assistant at his alma university, Baylor. While playing for the Bears, he was named to the All-Big 12 Honourable Mention team. Dallas, Texas native Linguist earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (2006) and a master’s degree in health, human performance, and recreation (2007) from Baylor. The linguist, along with his spouse Stacie, has a daughter named Maura and two sons named Lance and Leon.
