After learning from the best in college football and collecting championships along the way, Derek Kief is ready to teach the next wave of athletes. Per Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Kief was hired to the coaching staff at Maryland as a graduate assistant.
The native of Cincinnati, Ohio confirmed the news on Friday.
— Derek Kief (@DKief10) March 6, 2020
He came to the University of Alabama as a four-star receiver in its 2014 signing class.
At 6-foot-4 and 204 pounds, Kief showed promise with his size and athleticism, but injuries hindered him from becoming what he wanted to be. Despite the mishaps, he was still a good presence in the locker room and taught the system to players such as Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith.
In playing from 2014 to 2018, Kief would be part of four Southeastern Conference title teams (2014-16, 2018) and two national championship teams.
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He and Michael Locksley, former Alabama offensive coordinator, were on the Tide’s 2018 SEC Championship squad and now he will help Locksley with the Terrapins. Locksley enters his second year as head coach of the program.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.