One coach is heading north and crossing rivalry lines as he’s taken the run game coordinator and running backs coach roles.
Michigan announced Wednesday that Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford was hired to fill the same role.
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“Tony is an elite running backs coach who is an outstanding mentor and example for young men in all aspects of football and life,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore stated in a release. “I know that he will have a profound impact on our running back room and football program. We are excited to have Tony and his wife, Trina, and their boys join the Michigan Football Family.”
Alford spent the past nine seasons with the Buckeyes. He’d been part of teams that went 5-3 against Michigan since he arrived at Ohio State in 2015.
It isn’t the first time a coach has switched sides in the rivalry culminating in “The Game” at the end of each regular season. Ohio State hired Greg Mattison and Al Washington to be part of its defensive staff when Ryan Day took over as head coach prior to the 2019 season.
Alford will replace Mike Hart as Wolverines running backs coach after the team announced Hart wouldn’t be retained.
Alford’s hiring is the latest move in Moore’s tenure as Michigan head coach. Moore took over for Jim Harbaugh upon the Wolverines’ College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Washington, and he’s made sweeping changes to the program’s coaching staff.
