Source: Bama employs ex-U-M staffer ahead of CFP

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

• Senior WriterDec 14, 2023, 07:30 PM ET Close College football press reporter.
• Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
• Graduate of Northwestern University.Alabama has actually worked with ex-Michigan assistant George Helow to its coaching staff ahead of the group’s CFP semifinal matchup against the Wolverines, a source told ESPN on Thursday.Helow worked as Michigan’s linebackers coach in 2021 and 2022 under

  coach Jim Harbaugh. He and Michigan mutually parted ways in February, quickly after Michigan revived Chris Partridge from Ole Miss to coach the linebackers. He did not coach this season.It wasn’t immediately understood what Helow’s role will be, however he will not be one of the Tide’s 10 on-field assistants.Editor’s Picks Alabama, the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff, is set to take on No. 1 Michigan on Jan. 1 in the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential.A former Ole Miss defensive back, Helow coached a number of standout linebackers at Michigan, consisting of existing players like Michael Barrett and Junior Colson. He worked under Wolverines defensive organizer Jesse Minter in 2022. Michigan fired Partridge last month for a failure”to comply with the university directive not to talk about an ongoing NCAA investigation with anyone related to the Michigan football program.”Partridge in a declaration stated he had no knowledge of the forbidden off-campus signal-stealing operation led by former Michigan team member Connor Stalions.The Athletic initially reported Alabama’s hiring of Helow, who has also made stops at Maryland and

  Colorado State. Helow began his coaching profession as an intern for Alabama coach Nick Saban in 2012. He later on made stops at Florida State and Georgia.