Tony Alford. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan stealing a top assistant coach from Ohio State

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 3/13/24

Few things get the Michigan and Ohio State rivalry more heated than when someone "crosses the line" and goes to the "other side."

It's certainly the case with recruits and players but it can be just as big of a seismic event when a coach switches teams. It's now even more the case now that reporting suggests that longtime Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford will be in Ann Arbor in 2024. New Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was targeting Alford and trying to steal him out of Columbus, and it turns out that he got his man. Michigan confirmed the news in a press release.

Sources: Ohio State RB coach Tony Alford is expected to be the next running backs coach at Michigan. He's informed OSU officials that he's leaving. Football Scoop first reported him as a target.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 13, 2024

By pulling this steal off, Moore just secured a huge win for the Wolverines. Alford is credited with coaching several of Ohio State's elite running backs over the years. That includes Ezekiel Elliott, J.J. Dobbins and TreVeyon Henderson.

Alford reportedly made $772,000 in 2023, so one has to imagine a pay raise will be on the table for him at Michigan as well as perhaps bigger coaching responsibilities.

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