Ohio State has hired Tony Alford to be its next running backs coach and assistant head coach for offense, the school announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Alford, who has spent the last six seasons as an assistant at Notre Dame, will replace Stan Drayton, who left the Buckeyes for the NFL's Chicago Bears last Thursday.
“I’ve known Tony Alford for a long time and I am very pleased to be adding him to our staff,” said head coach Urban Meyer, who guided Ohio State to its first national championship since 2002 last month.
Meyer, who coached around Alford while serving as an assistant at Colorado State in 1990, called Alford an "an exceptional person and coach" and added he will "work really well with our staff and who will be an outstanding mentor and teacher for this football program."
Alford, who is regarded as a masterful recruiter, said "the history of the Ohio State program speaks for itself. I am extremely humbled and flattered that I was the guy who Coach Meyer wanted."
He added, “I am excited for a number of reasons. I am looking forward to working for Coach Meyer, someone I’ve known for a long time."
"I know his family. And I know his coaches," he continued. "I’ve worked directly with three of them and I’ve recruited against all of them."
Indeed, Alford and Ohio State's offensive coordinator Ed Warinner and tight ends coach Tim Hinton all coached at Notre Dame together in 2010 and 2011.
Alford also spent five seasons (2002-2006) with co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chris Ash at Iowa State.
Alford, who was born in Akron, Ohio, said, “I look forward to the new challenges and experiences and growth opportunities at Ohio State, and I’m excited to start helping them win another championship."
