A two-time BCS National Champion under Nick Saban at Alabama is on the move as a coach.
William Vlachos, a former first-team All-SEC selection, is heading to Western Kentucky to become a defensive run game/pass rush coordinator. ESPN’s Chris Low broke the news Thursday as Vlachos spent last season at Central Michigan (offensive line) and two years (2020-21) at Colorado. He served as a defensive blitz specialist for the Buffaloes along with the offensive line.
Former All-SEC @AlabamaFTBL center William Vlachos is taking a job at @WKUFootball as defensive run game/pass rush coordinator, sources tell ESPN. He was at Central Michigan as OL coach last season, but previously served in a similar defensive role at Colorado.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) February 2, 2023
Vlachos was born in Greece, but he attended Mountain Brook (Ala.) High School. He was recruited by Mike Shula, but Vlachos played under Saban from 2007 to 2011. As the starting center for Alabama, he paved the way for Mark Ingram to become the Crimson Tide’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 2009. Vlachos also helped Trent Richardson become a Heisman finalist in 2011, totaling a single-season school record of 1,679 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He was on Alabama’s 2009 and 2011 BCS National Championship teams. His coaching career started as a graduate assistant (2013) and offensive analyst (2014-17) on Saban’s staff. Vlachos helped the Tide to two more national championships (2015 and 2017) behind the scenes before leaving.
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It will be interesting to see what he does at Western Kentucky.
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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.
