Former Alabama defensive coordinator and associate head coach Kevin Steele will return to the Crimson Tide as director of player personnel.

Steele was the defensive coordinator for Alabama in 2008 and the associate head coach in 2009 before leaving for Clemson’s defensive coordinator job frem 2009-2011.

“We are excited to have Kevin back on our staff,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said in a statement today. “He did an excellent job here previously, and he knows our program from a recruiting standpoint as well as anyone. His organizational skills and people skills make him a perfect fit for this role. As recruiting in college football has evolved through the years, this position is one of the most important on our staff.”

Steele, from Dillon, S.C., will deal with recruiting in his new role, in addition to camps, clinics and other football-related events.

“I’m glad to be back at Alabama, and I’m looking forward to a new challenge in terms of this role,” said Steele. “I’ve worked at some great schools through the years, and nobody does it better than Coach Saban when it comes to running a program top to bottom."

Prior to Clemson and Alabama, Steele worked at Florida State under Bobby Bowden for four seasons, winning the Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year Award once.

Steele graduated from Tennessee in 1981 after transferring to the Volunteer program from Furman.

BRETT HUDSON