Maurice Linguist - Assistant Coach (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs) - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Maurice Linguist

Title:
Assistant Coach (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
Phone:
205-348-3600

Personal Information

Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Education: Baylor, 2006; Baylor, 2007
Spouse: Stacie
Children: Maura, Lance, Leon
Birthday: April 1

Coaching Experience

2024-present: Alabama, Co-DC/DB
2021-23: Buffalo, HC
2020: Dallas Cowboys, DB
2018-19: Texas A&M, CB
2017: Minnesota, DB
2016: Mississippi State, DB
2014-15: Iowa State, DB
2012-13: Buffalo, DB
2009-11: James Madison, S
2008: Valdosta State, DB/ST
2007: Baylor, GA

Maurice Linguist joined Kalen DeBoer's coaching staff at Alabama in the spring of 2024 and serves as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Crimson Tide. He came to UA following three years as head coach at the University of Buffalo. Regarded as one of the nation's top recruiters, Linguist has excelled in coaching at the Power Five level, working at nine different programs in the collegiate ranks, and has additional experience in the NFL.

Alabama - Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs (2024-Present)

In his first season in Tuscaloosa, Linguist contributed to a defense that allowed 17.4 points per game, good for fourth in the SEC and 10th nationally
More specifically, UA's defensive backs limited opponents to a 112.38 passing efficiency mark that ranked second in the conference and 10th in Division I
Alabama's secondary allowed just 182.2 passing yards per game, good for third in the league and 19th in the country, while picking off 17 total passes, the second-most in the conference, seventh-most nationally and the most by a Tide defense since 2017
The duo of Zabien Brown and Bray Hubbard tied for the team lead with three interceptions apiece while veteran safety Malachi Moore garnered all-conference and All-America honors at season's end

Buffalo - Head Coach (2021-23)

Led the University at Buffalo from 2021-23, also serving as the defensive play-caller in 2023
Coached 13 all-conference honorees and had 29 student-athletes named to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference lists
Signed the MAC's top-ranked recruiting classes in back-to-back season from 2022-2023, per 247Sports
The Bulls' defense made significant strides under Linguist, totaling 45 takeaways across the 2022-23 seasons, including 19 in '23 and 26 in '22 to lead the MAC and rank seventh nationally that year
With Linguist's guidance, defensive back Devin Grant earned first team All-MAC honors after the safety finished second on the team in tackles with 79, picked off five passes, had three pass breakups and blocked two kicks in 2023
In 2022, Linguist led the Bulls to a 7-6 record, capped by a 23-21 victory over Georgia Southern in the Camellia Bowl for just the third bowl win in program history
Linguist's victory over GSU made him only the second coach in Buffalo history to win a bowl game
Helped Buffalo to a 5-3 record in MAC play during that '22 campaign, the seventh time since the joining the league in 1999 that the Bulls had a winning record in conference action
Safety Marcus Fuqua led the nation with seven interceptions in 2022 and became only the third UB player to be named an Associated Press All-American
Additionally, linebacker Shaun Dolac ranked second in the nation with 147 tackles while the Bulls had seven players named All-MAC in 2022, including kicker Alex McNulty who was the first player in program history to be named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year
In Linguist's first season as the helm, seven Bulls were named to the All-MAC team, including James Patterson who was a first-team selection at middle linebacker
Linguist served a brief stint at Michigan in the 2021 offseason as defensive backs coach/co-defensive coordinator before accepting the Buffalo head coaching position

Dallas Cowboys - Defensive Backs (2020)

Spent the 2020-21 season coaching defensive backs for the Dallas Cowboys
In Dallas, Linguist directed a secondary that forced 10 interceptions while allowing the fifth-fewest passing first downs in the league with 180
The Cowboys were also ranked in the top half of the league in takeaways (9th), completion percentage against (10th) and pass yards allowed (11th)
Linguist's efforts were highlighted by the emergence of then-rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs, who picked off three passes during his first season in the league

Texas A&M - Cornerbacks (2018-19)

Coached cornerbacks at Texas A&M from 2018-19
Named one of ESPN.com's 'Top 40 under 40' coaches for 2018
Helped the Aggies finish 26th nationally in pass efficiency defense at 118.47 in 2019, an improvement of 80 spots from the year prior
Teams converted just 31.2 percent of third down tries (102-of-326) over Linguist's two seasons and the Aggies ranked ninth nationally in that category in 2018
Linguist also helped the A&M produce back-to-back top-six recruiting classes nationally in 2019 and 2020
He was the lead recruiter for five-star safety Jaylon Jones, the first five-star defensive back to sign with A&M

Minnesota - Defensive Backs (2017)

Worked with the defensive backs at Minnesota in 2017, eventually being promoted to assistant head coach at the conclusion of the '17 campaign
In his lone season at UM, Linguist's secondary anchored a defense that finished No. 11 nationally with 174.5 yards allowed per game after ranking 73rd in the NCAA a year earlier
The unit surrendered just 16 touchdowns, a top-25 figure in Division I, and ranked among the nation's best in first downs allowed (11th) and total defense (30th)
Linguist was also the lead recruiter for Rashod Bateman, the Big Ten's Wide Receiver of the Year

Mississippi State - Defensive Backs (2016)

Spent the 2016 campaign at Mississippi State where he coached the Bulldogs' defensive backs
Linguist specifically led the safeties group which was responsible for seven of the team's 14 interceptions
The defense scored four touchdowns, good for eighth nationally, and totaled 14 interceptions in 2016

Iowa State - Defensive Backs (2014-15)

Coached defensive backs at Iowa State from 2014-15
Guided three All-Big 12 honorees in his two seasons at ISU, including safety Kamari Cotton-Moya, a freshman first team All-America selection by the FWAA and the conference's Freshman of the Year on defense
Linguist then helped direct cornerback Brian Peavy to become a finalist for the award the following year
Also helped corner Nigel Tribune earned second team All-Big 12 honors in 2014

Buffalo - Defensive Backs (2012-13)

In his first coaching stint at Buffalo, Linguist directed the defensive backs from 2012-13
Helped the Bulls finish second in the MAC East and reach the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2013
The unit ranked second in the league in interceptions (15), points per game allowed (24.4) and yards per game allowed (382.2) in '13
Individually, helped cornerback Najja Johnson to first team All-MAC honors after leading the conference in interceptions that year

Additional Coaching Experience

Spent three years at James Madison from 2009-11, helping the Dukes finish in the top-20 nationally in scoring defense each season
Was also instrumental in JMU's top-ranked FCS recruiting class during the 2012 cycle while the team reached the second round of the NCAA Football Championship Series Playoffs
Linguist's first full-time position was at Valdosta State, working with defensive backs and special teams
Helped guide the Blazers to a playoff appearance in 2008 with the team falling in round two to eventual FCS champions North Dakota State
He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Baylor, as a graduate assistant working with the strong safeties and rover backs in 2007

Playing Career

Graduated from Baylor in 2006 with an undergraduate degree in communications before earning his master's in health, human performance and recreation from BU in 2007
Garnered All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades on the field and Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2006
Made 42 appearances with 24 starts at strong safety across his four seasons from 2003-06
Totaled 160 career tackles, including 17 for loss, to go with three interceptions and six pass breakups
Named the team's defensive Most Valuable Player and earned second team All-Big 12 accolades as a senior

Personal Info

Native of Dallas, Texas
Married to Stacie, a 2008 graduate of Baylor and a 2012 Howard University School of Law graduate
Stacie currently works as a lawyer and is barred in eight separate states
Has two sons, Lance and Leon, and one daughter, Maura
Attended Mesquite High School where he helped the Skeeters to a 15-0 record and the Texas 5A state title in 2001
Selected to Mesquite's Hall of Fame class for 2025
Also served on the Board of Trustees for the AFCA in 2022