After Auburn fans successfully thwarted Kevin Steel’s bid at the Auburn head coaching vacancy after the 2020 season, Kevin Steele’s new role will be as Alabama’s defensive coordinator in an effort to stop the Auburn offense.
It’s not uncommon for fans to keep tabs on former Auburn players and coaches after they leave the plains. Whether it’s to celebrate their future accomplishments after an unheralded Auburn career (Bo Nix) or to mock their shortcomings after underwhelming stints on our sideline (Chad Morris), fans like to track the careers of those who used to wear the Orange & Blue. A particularly polarizing figure is Kevin Steele, Auburn’s defensive coordinator from 2016 through 2020.
Kevin Steele fielded the best Auburn defense in 15 years with the 2019 version of Marlon Davidson and Derrick Brown, but also fielded a subpar unit in 2018 and 2020. Unfortunately, his tenure ended after what was reportedly an attempt by him in concert with boosters inside the program make sure he landed the HC job after Gus Malzahn’s firing in December 2020. After that fell apart, Kevin Steele took his talents elsewhere. But fans won’t have to look far to keep up with him now, as he accepts the defensive coordinator position at Alabama.
Maybe, in the absence of a better hire available, they’re looking kind of just for an errand boy here at defensive coordinator.
– Mike G on The Morning Drop
Alabama has a unique talent advantage that very few programs do, and Kevin Steele exceled at Auburn when the talent was high. But as a 3-time retread on Saban’s staff, this doesn’t feel like the homerun hire that Saban is usually known for. Is Kevin Steele a rush hire for Alabama? Is Saban scraping the bottom of the barrel for coaching talent? Can Kevin Steele improve on Pete Golding’s results?
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