Shaun Dion Hamilton credits, details how Nick Saban impacted new coaching career

Former Alabama standout linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton has transitioned his playing career into a coaching career. Hamilton debuted his coaching career in 2022, serving as a defensive assistant for the Detroit Lions. He’s currently still in the role and serving as a coach in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and in Mobile, he spoke on the impact Alabama head coach Nick Saban has had on his coaching career.

“Just the process, man… Now being a coach, I applaud Coach Saban for the amount of work, time, and effort he puts in,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton played for the Crimson Tide from 2014-2017 and was a part of two national championship teams, recording 104 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and a pair of interceptions and forced fumbles. Following his collegiate career he was selected in the 6th round of the 2018 NFL Draft by Washington, where he played one season before suffering an injury that led to him being waived by Washington.

He was then claimed off of waivers by the Detroit Lions, where he was eventually released again in 2022 after suffering another injury. He retired from football in September of 2022 to pursue his coaching career, and it’s clear that the lessons learned from one of the greatest in Tuscaloosa stuck with him.

“I definitely understand, I explain to people how now being a coach you’re in charge of the ingredients,” Hamilton explained. “People always see the cake, well you’re in charge of baking the cake and putting all the ingredients and basically just serving it to the players.”

It sounds like Hamilton’s recipe for coaching success has ingredients from Saban’s kitchen, as he looks to continue the start of his coaching career off on the right foot.

Former Alabama lineman William Vlachos named run game/pass rush coordinator at Western Kentucky

Former Alabama offensive lineman William Vlachos has found a new home in his coaching journey. According to On3’s Matt Zenitz, Vlachos will join Ty Helton’s staff at Western Kentucky as their defensive run game/pass rush coordinator.

Vlachos jump started his coaching career immediately after his playing career ended, starting off as a graduate assistant with Alabama in 2013. He’d spend the following four seasons with the Crimson Tide as an analyst before taking his coaching talents to the next level, serving as a coaching assistant for the Buffalo Bills in 2018. He’d follow his one year in the NFL with a two year stint with the Colorado Buffaloes, where he served as a Defensive blitz/Offensive front specialist in his first season and an offensive line coach in his second.

He most recently spent the 2022 season as Central Michigan‘s offensive line coach and joins a WKU staff that is fresh off of two consecutive nine-win seasons capped off with bowl game victories.