Football
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Craig Kuligowski joined Alabama head coach Nick Saban's staff in February of 2018 as the Crimson Tide's associate head coach and defensive line coach.
Kuligowski comes to Alabama after two seasons at the University of Miami where he coached the defensive line and served as the assistant head coach. He revitalized the Hurricanes defensive front and helped Miami return to national prominence in 2017 with a trip to the ACC Championship Game and the Capital One Orange Bowl.
The Hurricanes ranked among the nation's leaders in several defensive categories in 2017, including top in the nation in team sacks (3.38), third nationally in tackles for loss (8.5) and turnovers gained (31), eighth nationally in fumbles recovered (14) and ninth in the nation in opponent yards per play (4.77).
Three of his defensive linemen earned All-ACC recognition in 2017 with RJ McIntosh named to the second team, Trent Harris the third team and Kendrick Norton garnering honorable mention honors.
In his first year with the program in 2016, Miami's defensive line enjoyed vast improvements under his guidance and served as one of the top units both in the ACC and nationally. After the season, Kuligowski was promoted to assistant head coach after spending the 2016 season as defensive line coach.
In 2016, Miami ranked No. 20 nationally in total defense (up from No. 69 the previous season), No. 9 in yards per play (No. 86 in 2015), No. 12 in scoring defense (No. 77 in 2015), No. 5 in tackles for loss (No. 105 in 2015), No. 22 in team sacks (No. 70 in 2015) and tied for eighth in defensive touchdowns allowed (No. 61 in 2015).
Prior to his time in Miami, Kuligowski spent 15 years at the University of Missouri coaching the defensive line for head coach Gary Pinkel where he was the second-longest tenured assistant coach in the league. During his time in Columbia, Coach “Kool” produced 24 all-conference players along the defensive front, four first round NFL Draft picks from 2009 to his departure and 12 NFL Draft picks since 2002.
Kuligowski's final year in Columbia saw the Tigers' defensive line rank second in the nation in team tackles for loss. The Tigers also ranked ninth in the nation in total defense. The 2014 Mizzou defense led the SEC in sacks (a school-record 44), and was the stingiest defense in the league, allowing a conference-low 300.8 yards per game in conference matchups. Star pupil Shane Ray was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft the following April by the Denver Broncos.
The 2013 season saw the emergence of Michael Sam, who became one of the more compelling stories of the year, as he rose from little preseason publicity to become one of the top rush ends in the nation. He led the SEC in both sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (19.0), was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and became MU's first defensive First Team All-American since 2001. Sam was a finalist for the Nagurski, Lombardi and Hendricks awards that season. Kony Ealy also turned in an outstanding season that year, claiming First Team All-SEC accolades by the Associated Press.
Kuligowski's 2013 defensive line was one of the most disruptive in the nation, producing 39 of Mizzou's 41 season sacks (which led the SEC and ranked 12th nationally), while notching 73.5 of the team's 107 tackles for loss. Sheldon Richardson developed into one of the top defensive tackles in the nation in 2012, and claimed First Team All-SEC honors for his play, which included leading all SEC linemen in tackles (75).
Redshirt freshman end Aldon Smith developed into one of the top freshmen in the nation under Kuligowski's tutelage in 2009. He was named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, garnered Third Team All-American honors and was a First Team Freshman All-American. Smith broke the MU single-season sacks record in 2009 with 11.5 while accounting for 19 tackles for loss, both of which led the nation among freshmen.
Kuligowski began his coaching at his alma mater Toledo as the recruiting coordinator in 1992 before adding to his role as the tight ends coach in 1993-95 and serving as the assistant offensive line coach for the Rockets in 1995 as well. Kuligowski moved to the defensive line in 1996 and was credited with building one of the top defensive lines in the MAC from 1996-2000. In 2000, the Rockets were ranked fifth in the nation in rush defense, allowing just 81.5 yards per game and 2.46 yards per carry. They were ranked third in the country in scoring defense, third in total defense and topped the national rankings in turnover margin.
A four-year standout at Toledo (1987-90) as an offensive tackle, Kuligowski was named First Team All-MAC in his final two seasons with the Rockets. The 1990 season, his senior campaign, saw first-year head coach Nick Saban take over the Toledo program and lead the Rockets to the MAC title.
Kuligowski earned a bachelor of business administration degree from Toledo in 1991. He and his wife Mary have two daughters, Peyton and Madeline, and a son, Max.
