For Ohio State fans, it’s a heel turn. For Michigan fans, it’s a face turn. But for longtime Buckeyes running backs coach Tony Alford, it’s simply a career move.
According to Football Scoop via ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Alford is leaving Ohio State to take the position of running backs coach at arch-rival Michigan. He has served as the running backs coach at Ohio State since 2015.
“Sources: Ohio State RB coach Tony Alford is expected to be the next running backs coach at Michigan. He’s informed OSU officials that he’s leaving. Football Scoop first reported him as a target,” Thamel wrote.
Alford has nearly 30 years of experience coaching running backs in college football. He’s worked at a slew of programs including Iowa State, Washington, Louisville and Notre Dame becoming joining the Buckeyes under Urban Meyer back in 2015.
Some of Alford’s star pupils include running backs J.K. Dobbins, Ezekiel Elliott, Trey Sermon and TreVeyon Henderson at Ohio State. He was promoted to the team’s run game coordinator in 2022.
But with Michigan legend Mike Hart leaving the Wolverines after three years, the team needed a high-profile replacement – and they got their man.
Ryan Day is going to need to dig deep to find a running backs coach with the experience and talent of Alford in order to keep his vaunted running back efficient.
Will Alford be a major difference-maker for the Wolverines’ coaching staff in 2024?