George Helow’s experience with Alabama’s scheme is one of the main reasons Nick Saban added him to his staff before of the Crimson Tide’s national semifinal game against No. 1 Michigan (13-0).

“Every year we’ve been in the playoffs,” Saban said on Monday. “Every time,” he added, “we’ve tried to bring somebody in primarily — because we spent two weeks, really, on the road recruiting — to do a little extra work, that has good experience, and, when we get off the road, to give us a good scouting report of what we need to know.”

“George has been here before,” Saban said, continuing. “He had been with us for a long time.” Understands our system… That’s the goal: to add a special assistant to me, or whatever you want to call it, so that when I get off the road, I can catch up on what’s going on. That’s why we’ve always done it that way.

Helow, a former Ole Miss football player, joined the Alabama coaching staff in 2012. He joined Michigan’s staff in 2021 as the linebackers coach after turns at Florida State, Georgia, Colorado State, and Maryland. He quit in February of last year because it was “time to explore new opportunities,” he stated on social media.

Helow’s arrival coincided with the departure of Coleman Hutzler. After serving as Alabama’s outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, Hutzler was appointed as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator.

When asked if Helow may eventually replace Hutzler, Saban responded no, and that Hutzler will remain with the Crimson Tide through the postseason.

“We’re not concerned with any of that stuff right now,” he remarked. “We have a game coming up.” Coleman Hutzler has arrived. He’s nearing the end of the season.