Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Kevin Steele returned to Alabama in February of 2023 for his third stint on head coach Nick Saban's staff and his second as defensive coordinator. He joined the Crimson Tide after serving as the defensive coordinator at Miami in 2022.
Steele will take over an Alabama defense ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense (18.2 ppg), sixth in pass efficiency defense (108.0) and 13th in total defense (318.2 ypg). The Crimson Tide return six starters but must replace Will Anderson Jr., Jordan Battle, Brian Branch and Henry To'oTo'o among others.
A previous finalist for the Broyles Award honoring the nation's top assistant coach, Steele owns 39 years of coaching experience, including 13 years in the SEC and 10 as a defensive coordinator.
During his five-season tenure as defensive coordinator at Auburn (2016-2020), Steele's units ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense four times while producing 14 NFL Draft picks and multiple first-rounders.
In his final season at Auburn in 2020, Steele's unit ranked fourth in the SEC in scoring defense while playing a 10-game conference slate. He also served as interim head coach for the Tigers' Citrus Bowl contest against Northwestern.
In 2019, Auburn's defense ranked eighth nationally in both red zone and third down defense, allowing only 19.5 points per game against a schedule that featured six 11-win opponents. The 2018 Auburn defense ranked 14th nationally in scoring defense (19.2) and allowed only nine rushing touchdowns. The Tigers ranked in the top 20 nationally in sacks (38) and tackles for loss (96) and were ninth in the country with three interception returns for scores.
The 2017 season saw Steele earn Broyles Award finalist honors as SEC West champion Auburn ranked 14th in total defense and 12th in scoring defense, allowing just 4.67 yards per play, which was eighth-best nationally. The Tigers ranked seventh in Division I for scoring defense, 11th in red zone defense and 28th in total defense in his first season of 2017, an improvement of 43 spots over the previous year. The Tigers also held eight consecutive opponents without a rushing touchdown, the longest season streak at Auburn since 1957.
Steele served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for LSU in 2015, going to Baton Rouge from Alabama, where he spent the 2014 season coaching the Crimson Tide linebackers and was a special assistant to the head coach. He helped Trey DePriest earn All-America honors as the UA defense ranked sixth nationally in total defense. In 2013, he served as Alabama's director of player personnel.
Steele was the defensive coordinator at Clemson for three years from 2009-11. While at Clemson, the Tigers won the 2011 ACC title, their first since 1991. Steele's 2010 Clemson defense led the ACC and ranked No. 13 nationally in points allowed, surrendering 18.8 points per game.
His first coaching stint at Alabama (2007-08) saw the UA defense perform impressively under Steele in 2007, ranking 27th nationally and fourth in the SEC in scoring defense (22.0 ppg). In addition, inside linebacker Rolando McClain was recognized as a first team Sporting News Freshman All-American. The 2008 Alabama defense was second nationally in rush defense, allowing just 74.1 yards per game. That unit was third in the NCAA in total defense (263.5 ypg) and seventh in scoring defense (14.3 ppg) as the Crimson Tide went 12-2, won the SEC West and earned a BCS bowl bid.
Steele coached with Bobby Bowden at Florida State for four years (2003-06), serving as the executive head coach for the Seminoles. He was named the Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year in 2005 at Florida State after helping the Seminoles sign the top class in the country.
Steele joined Florida State after serving as the head coach at Baylor from 1999-2002. Prior to overseeing the Big 12 program, Steele coached linebackers for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL from 1995-98. Under head coach Dom Capers, the Panthers reached the NFC Championship game in just their second season of existence (1996).
From 1989-94, Steele coached the linebackers under Nebraska legend Tom Osborne. During his six years in Lincoln, the Cornhuskers went 60-11, appeared in six bowl games, won four conference championships and captured the 1994 national championship with a 13-0 record.
The Dillon, S.C., native is a 1981 graduate of the University of Tennessee. He spent his freshman season at Furman before transferring to Knoxville, where he was a member of Johnny Majors' 1978 and 1979 squads. Steele was a student assistant coach in 1980 and then a graduate assistant the following year (1981) before being promoted to outside linebackers coach in 1982.
He served on Majors' staff again from 1987-88 as defensive backs coach and was part of a 1987 Vols team that posted a 10-2-1 record, capping the year with a No. 14 national ranking and a Peach Bowl victory.
Steele and his wife, Linda, have a son, Gordon, and a daughter, Caroline. Gordon serves on the football coaching staff at South Alabama.
