Kalen DeBoer's reported new hires complete the '24 Alabama football staff

According to multiple sources, Kalen DeBoer has added two more Alabama football assistant coaches. The two additions complete the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide on-field staff of assistant coaches.

Pete Thamel broke the news that DeBoer's choice as offensive line assistant is Chris Kapilovic. Kapilovic leaves Dave Aranda's Baylor staff despite being a new hire for Aranda. Prior to Baylor, Kapilovic was at Michigan State for four seasons. In 2020 he was Assistant Coach/OL. In the 2021-23 seasons his Michigan State title was Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line and Run-Game Coordinator.

Going back to the 2001 season, Kapilovic coached offensive lines at Alabama State, Missouri State, Southern Miss, North Carolina and Colorado. The new Crimson Tide coach was born in Cleveland, OH and played offensive tackle at Missouri State. In addition to OL coaching duties, he had additional run game duties at multiple programs and had Offensive Coordinator duties for five seasons at North Carolina.

Kapilovic had considerable success at Michigan State. He was voted the Big Ten's top offensive line coach after the 2022 season. In the 2015 and 2021 seasons, Kapilovic's offensive lines were semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award. His 2018 offensive line at North Carolina allowed only 10 sacks and three of his 2012 (UNC) starters were drafted by the NFL.

Quick responses from Alabama football insiders have been enthusiastic. It is clear Dave Aranda considers the move a big loss for Baylor. While at Michigan State, it was rumored that Kapilovic turned down an opportunity to coach with Lincoln Riley.

News of Kalen DeBoer's reported other new hire was released by Ryan Fowler. According to Fowler, Georgia Southern's Offensive Coordinator, Bryan Ellis will join the Alabama Crimson Tide as a tight ends assistant coach. Ellis was quarterback at UAB from 2007-2011. Before Georgia Southern, Ellis coached receivers and quarterbacks at UCS and Western Kentucky

The two reported new hires follow a pattern for Kalen DeBoer. He has filled the new Alabama football staff with coaches that have broad experience coaching multiple positions. While some of their stops have not been elite programs, the combined coaching knowledge of DeBoer's first Alabama staff is impressive.