New coach returns home to craft new defense

TUSCALOOSA | For Kevin Steele, there was never any doubt about what he wanted to do with his life. Even as a preschooler, when he would run up and down the sidelines at Gordo High School, where his father was a football coach, the family pretty much assumed that another one was already in the making.

However, even with his ties to the area, and his parents currently living in West Blocton, some people can’t help but wonder why the University of Alabama’s new defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach left Florida State to work for a person with a reputation for being incredibly demanding of his staff.

According to Steele, there lies the true answer.

“Football at the level that we’re at, when you start coaching at the Florida States, the Nebraskas and Alabamas and LSUs, and those places, you’re expected to be the best," Steele said. “Through that, a relentless work ethic, and a competitive spirit, and a drive and commitment for excellence, I didn’t know anyone ever had to apologize for that."

Just like that, it’s easy to see why Steele has such a strong reputation as a recruiter.

While spring football is primarily used as a time for the coaches to get to know the players, this year the opposite is also true under new coach Nick Saban.

While the 15 practices are basically a crash course for everyone involved, its especially true for the defense, which returns only five starters accustomed to Joe Kines -- who during practice was vocally as subtle as a Sherman tank.

Although their coaching philosophies may not be too different, which is making the transition a little easier for players, Steele is otherwise nothing like his predecessor.

“Coach Kines had a raspy voice, I miss it from time to time, but coach Steele is very laid back," junior defensive end Wallace Gilberry said. “When he gets going, he’s going. But for the most part he’s very laid back and likes thing to run smoothly."

“They’re two different personalities," junior linebacker Matt Collins said. “I really like him. He has a good personality. But every defense in college football boils down to being where you’re supposed to be and then just running to the ball."

Steele and Saban have known each other for years, dating back to when Steele was an assistant coach at Tennessee (1987-88) and the two started visiting each other’s programs. Since then he’s had a stint at Nebraska (1989-94), coached the linebackers for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers (1995-98), was the head coach at Baylor (1992-2002), and most recently spent four years at Florida State.

Two players he helped develop for the Seminoles were high-profile linebackers Michael Boulware and Ernie Sims, and in 2005 he was named rivals.com’s national recruiter of the year.

Consequently, Steele was one of the first persons Saban called after he knew he was moving to the Capstone.

“Coach Steele is an outstanding coach, he’s a very good leader," Saban said.

“He does a great job with the presentation with the players, and I think is very well respected. In a lot of ways, certainly someone I depend on."

One thing that is different, however, is that ever since high school, Saban has been first and foremost a defensive guy. Even during spring practice he’s been frequently seen working with the defensive backs, especially the cornerbacks.

“Every play he’s correcting something. I get a tip from him every rep I take," junior Simeon Castille said about Saban.

“He really is a great defensive back coach."

Consequently, the scheme that Alabama is implementing is not Steele’s, but Saban’s.

“I think if you ask anyone who has come into this system, defensively, that we have played since 1983, any time someone is new it’s a tough transition for him," Saban said. “I think it would be true if you went anywhere else and implemented someone else’s system. That would be hard for anyone.

“We think alike. There’s not any philosophical differences, a lot of the stuff is the same. So I think this is going to be an easier transition."

Saban also pointed out that the defensive staff also has three other coaches who are already familiar with his scheme -- assistant head coach and defensive secondary assistant Kirby Smart, outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson, and defensive line coach Bo Davis.

When asked earlier this week if Alabama will primarily play out of a 3-4 defense like Saban indicated, Steele replied: “If he’s said it, it’s true. We’re still in that process. Obviously you can be 3-4, you can be 4-3. That process is still ongoing to be frank with you.

“The thing you get in college football today, people are labeled 3-4 or 4-3, simply be-cause of the personnel grouping they have on the field. But when you schematically look at the defense that they’re playing, they’re playing 3-4 packages in 4-3, just different personnel."

Judging by Saban’s previous teams, Alabama’s defense will play a lot of nickel (at least five defensive backs) with more zone coverage in the base package. Up front, there’s more emphasis on aggressively going after the quarterback, though disguised so the offense doesn’t know who’s coming and from where.

Already the Tide has been going over a number of blitz packages during practice, but the emphasis remains elsewhere -- not on the depth chart or what the players did before.

“Just teach, teach, teach, teach, teach, teach, teach," Steele said. “That will take care of itself.

“We try not to assess the past. There are good coaches on every staff, there’s people who have great plans on every staff, you can’t get into that. You start from ground zero and go. Assume nothing and just go through the process."

Ground zero.

Another team.

Another head coach.

Another town, although this one familiar, despite having an equally good situation under Bobby Bowden in Tallahassee.

A new start.

“Difficult decision, simply because if you know coach Bowden at all, he’s a joy to be around," Steele said.

“Obviously, the winningest coach in college football, he knows what he’s doing, how to do it, he’s a father-figure, if you will. It was very difficult, very difficult.

“In fact, I saw him last week when I went home for a few days, had a great talk with him. He’s a remarkable man. Just an amazing person."

Perhaps its just a calling, or in his blood somehow, going all the way back to Gordo and a football family.

Steele’s older brother, Dale, is the head coach at Campbell University, and his younger brother, Jeff, is an associated athletic director and Auburn

“At one time I lived in this town," Steele said. “It’s pretty obvious what Alabama football is, what it stands for, all the great players who played here, the great coaches who have been here, the winning tradition that has been here. Coupled that with Coach Saban [who] is someone that I knew very well, both personally and as a football coach. His commitment to excellence, his plan for success are proven: won a national championship, won conference championship. That, all put together, made it the right place at the right time."

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.