Former Alabama assistant lands DC position with MAC program
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Former Alabama assistant Robert Bala’s next coaching stop is reportedly in the MAC.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel shared Tuesday, per sources, that Bala is being hired as Western Michigan’s new defensive coordinator.
Sources: Western Michigan is hiring former Alabama assistant coach Robert Bala as the school’s new defensive coordinator. Bala is a veteran coach with stops at Liberty, Arizona and in the NFL.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 31, 2024
Bala joined the Alabama coaching staff in 2023. He served as inside linebackers for Nick Saban’s final season, working with Deontae Lawson, Jihaad Campbell, Trezmen Marshall and others.
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The Western Michigan gig will be Bala’s first opportunity as a coordinator in the FBS ranks. He has previously been a coordinator at FCS Southern Utah and Palmorar College, a California CC program.
Bala has over 15 seasons of coaching experience. His previous stops include Liberty, the University of Arizona and the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. He has coached linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.
Earlier this month, Bala indicated his departure, posting on social media that he was thankful for his time in Tuscaloosa.
Thankful for the opportunity. It’s been real, will always rock with #RollTide ✌? pic.twitter.com/Kss2GrGsZS
— Robert Bala (@CoachRobertBala) January 18, 2024
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
