Football
- Title:
- Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
- Hometown: Philadelphia, Penn.
- Education: Pennsylvania, 2010
- Spouse: Rebecca
- Children: Catherine, Isabel
- Birthday: March 13
- 2024-present: Alabama (Co-DC/DB)
- 2022: Wisconsin (Co-DC/S)
- 2020-21: Cincinnati (Co-DC/S)
- 2019: Cincinnati (SDA)
- 2018: Cincinnati (QC)
- 2017: South Alabama (S)
- 2015-16: South Alabama (DFO)
- 2014: South Alabama (GA)
- 2013: Arkansas State (GA)
- 2012: Widener [Pa.] (STC/DB)
- 2011: Salve Regina [R.I.] (Co-STC/DL)
- 2010: Kansas City Chiefs (PPA)
- 2009: Philadelphia Eagles (TCA)
Colin Hitschler joined Alabama coach Kalen DoBoer's staff in January of 2024 to serve as the Crimson Tide's co-defensive coordinator.
Hitschler is regarded as one of the bright young minds in college football and has excelled as he worked his way through the ranks. He and co-defensive coordinator Maurice Linguist will share the coaching duties for the defensive backfield.
He arrived at Wisconsin with new head coach Luke Fickell prior to the 2023 season to serve as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Badgers. Safety Hunter Wohler led the team in tackles with 120 to go along with two interceptions and six pass deflections. Preston Zachman added 49 stops and two picks at the opposite safety spot. The Badgers finished 20th nationally in scoring defense (20.2 ppg) and 34th in pass efficiency defense.
He joined Cincinnati as a quality control coach in 2018. He was named one of the “rising-star assistants you need to know” by On3 for 2022. Hitschler was also named the Football Scoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year following the 2020 season.
Led by the nation's best pass defense, Cincinnati secured its first-ever 13-0 record in 2021, winning a second-straight American Athletic Conference Championship and advancing to the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl in the process.
As UC's safeties coach, he led development of 2020 All-AAC First Team selection James Wiggins and 2021 All-AAC First Team selection Bryan Cook, who was picked to play in the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl. Cook was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 62 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
In 2021, the Bearcats' defense was outstanding, ranking fifth nationally in scoring defense (16.5) and No. 10 in total defense (318.4). The Bearcats also allowed only 4.5 yards per play to opponents, which was the fourth fewest in the nation. Cincinnati had the nation's best pass defense, finishing No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency defense (103.37), No. 2 in passing yards allowed (169.2), No. 3 in interceptions (19) and No. 4 in opponent completion % (54.0).
Prior to his role as safeties coach at Cincinnati, he had been part of a UC staff which helped lead the Bearcats to back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018 and 2019, the 2019 American Athletic Conference East Division Championship and consecutive bowl-game wins in the 2018 Military Bowl and 2019 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.
The Bearcats finished atop the 2019 AAC ranks in scoring defense for the second-straight season and ranked among the league's top three in rushing and total defense. The 2018 Bearcats defense led the American in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense and ranked among the Top-15 in the NCAA FBS in all three categories.
Hitschler came to UC after four seasons at the University of South Alabama. He coached the safeties in 2017, served as the director of football operations from 2015-16 and was a defensive graduate assistant in 2014. USA safety Jeremy Reaves was recognized as the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-league honoree. The 2017 defense surrendered 22 points or fewer in regulation seven times in eight conference games. The Jaguars finished in the Top 5 in the Sun Belt Conference in pass defense, pass efficiency defense, tackles for loss and third-down conversion percentage against.
Prior to joining the Jaguars staff, he was a graduate assistant at Arkansas State during the 2013 campaign. Working with the Red Wolves' defensive line, ASU finished 8-5 after a victory over Ball State at the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
In 2012, he was the defensive backs coach, special teams and recruiting coordinator at Widener (Pa.), helping the Pride go 11-1, win the Middle Atlantic Conference championship and advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
As the defensive line coach and co-special teams coordinator the previous year at Salve Regina (R.I.), he was part of a Seahawk staff that led the program to the East Coast Athletic Conference title and a 9-2 finish after winning the New England Bowl.
Hitschler has National Football League experience as well, serving as a player personnel assistant for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010 - they would win the AFC West Division with a 10-6 mark that fall - and as a training camp assistant the year before with the Philadelphia Eagles.
A native of Philadelphia, Hitschler wrestled at Pennsylvania for four years before earning his degree in communications and commerce in 2010. He and his wife Rebecca were married in the summer of 2016, and the couple has two daughters, Catherine and Isabel.
