Ahead of its College Football Playoff semifinal matchup with Michigan, Alabama is bringing on a new assistant coach with inside knowledge of the Wolverines.
The Crimson Tide are reportedly hiring former Wolverines linebackers coach George Helow, who coached at Michigan for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He worked alongside current defensive coordinator Jesse Minter in 2022.
Per The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, “Helow is expected to begin work immediately as the Crimson Tide prepare to play his former team.” It’s unclear at this stage exactly what role Helow will fill on Nick Saban's staff.
The 36-year-old Helow previously worked for Saban as a defensive intern for Alabama in 2012. It was his first coaching job. Helow later worked as a graduate assistant at Florida State and Georgia before joining the staff at Colorado State, where he spent four years before a one-year stint at Maryland in 2020, where he spent one year before landing at Michigan.
Helow did not coach this season after Jim Harbaugh brought in Chris Partridge to coach Michigan’s linebackers following the 2022 season. Partridge was fired by the Wolverines in November after failing to abide by a university directive not to discuss the NCAA’s investigation into the program’s alleged sign-stealing scheme.
A message to Michigan pic.twitter.com/CY8qDQWRwR
— George Helow (@GeorgeHelow) February 16, 2023
Michigan and Alabama meet at the Rose Bowl for the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ESPN will broadcast the game.
