Kevin Steele will be coaching on Nick Saban’s staff in 2023 as the defensive coordinator. He revealed what led to his return in a recent interview.

Steele will be taking over for former DC Pete Golding. Golding left to join Lane Kiffin’s staff at Ole Miss in a similar role.

Steele’s first stop at Alabama was in 2007 as DC. The following year he coached the inside linebackers. Steele left Tuscaloosa for Clemson in 2009 before returning to Alabama to coach linebackers in 2014.

What drew Steele back to Alabama had to do with Saban and how he implements the plan for the team.

“The process, the plan he has, and the way he implements that plan is second to none,” said Steele. “He does it better than arguably anybody’s ever done it.”

Other roles within the SEC that Steele has held include assistant coaching jobs at Tennessee, Auburn, and LSU.

Golding’s defense allowed 18 points and 311 total offensive yards per game in 2022. Alabama’s defense allowed the second fewest yards per game in the SEC behind Georgia.

Fans will have to wait and see if bringing back Steele was a good move for the Crimson Tide. Steele’s first Power 5 opponent will be Texas on Sept. 9.

That game will be televised on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.