A source told ESPN on Thursday that Alabama has added former Michigan assistant George Helow to its coaching staff in advance of the team’s CFP semifinal game against the Wolverines.
Under Jim Harbaugh, Helow oversaw Michigan’s linebackers in 2021 and 2022. Soon after Michigan rehired Chris Partridge from Ole Miss to coach the linebackers, the two parties mutually parted ways in February. It was not a season he coached.
Helow’s position was not immediately clear, but he will not be one of the 10 on-field assistants for the Tide.
On January 1, Alabama, the fourth-seeded team in the College Football Playoff, will play No. 1 Michigan in the CFP Semifinal in the Prudential Rose Bowl Game.
Helow, a defensive back from Ole Miss, taught a number of outstanding linebackers at Michigan, including players like Junior Colson and Michael Barrett today. In 2022, he was employed by Jesse Minter, the defensive coordinator for the Wolverines.
Partridge was let go by Michigan last month for failing “to abide by the university directive not to discuss an ongoing NCAA investigation with anyone associated with the Michigan football program.” In a statement, Partridge said he was unaware of the off-campus signal-stealing scheme that was run by Connor Stalions, a former employee of Michigan.
Helow has previously held positions at Maryland and Colorado State. The Athletic was the first to announce that Alabama had hired him. In 2012, Helow began working as an intern for Nick Saban, the coach of Alabama. Later on, he visited Georgia and Florida State.
