Tony Alford bids farewell to Ohio State, reveals new title at Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore scored a big-time hire by stealing running backs coach and assistant head coach Tony Alford from hated rival Ohio State.
Reports of the move surfaced Wednesday morning, and Alford released an afternoon statement to the Buckeye fan base. He also changed his Twitter/X account bio that reveals his new job title at Michigan, even though he hasn’t been officially announced by U-M.
Per the bio, he will serve as the Wolverines’ run game coordinator and running backs coach, which is the same title Mike Hart held. Hart left the Michigan program last week after three seasons as an assistant coach.
Alford’s statement said that the last nine years at Ohio State were “nothing short of amazing.”
“There are so many people to thank and acknowledge,” Alford wrote. “For fear of leaving anyone out, I will intentionally only name 6 individuals by name. But to those of you who know, well, you know.
“I want to specifically thank [former Ohio Sate head coach] Urban Meyer and [athletic director] Gene Smith for giving me the opportunity to come here back in February 2015. I want to thank [current Buckeyes’ head man] Ryan Day and the numerous members of the coaching staff and support staff within The Woody. So many lifelong friendships have been formed and I am appreciative of you all.
“To the Dublin community and specifically to the Jerome High School administrative and teaching staff, I want to truly thank you all for the time spent with my 3 sons over the course of 9 years. Your impact on my sons cannot be understated. To Bob Gecewich (current head coach at Perry HS) and Morgan Drake (owner of Drake Dance Academy) and Brett Glass (current head coach at Jerome HS) the impact and impressions that you have individually had, and made, on Rylan, Kyler and Braydon is so appreciated. You all have poured so much into their lives and been so instrumental in their development as young men and I thank you so very much.”
Continued the new Michigan assistant: “To Buckeye Nation, the support you give this program has been second to none and it’s appreciated, thank you.
“Now, to the most important people, the players. You guys have had such an amazing impact on me, not only as a coach, but also as a father and as a man. I thank you and your families so much for allowing me to be a small part of your journey. I can only hope that I made half as much an impact on you all as you have on me. Watching so many of you grow to become the men that you have become makes me so proud. Thank you guys and I hope and pray that all of your successes are as great as your dreams and goals.
“All of that being said, as I will undoubtedly miss so many things about being a member of the Buckeye Football Family, I am excited about what the future holds as I embark on the next chapter of this journey.
“Best wishes to all!! – Tony Alford”
Alford joins a Michigan offensive staff led by coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell. The group also includes pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy, offensive line coach Grant Newsome and tight ends coach Steve Casula.
Alford, 55, has 29 years of FBS coaching experience, including nine at Ohio State and six at Notre Dame. He’s a native of Akron, Ohio, and played running back at Colorado State from 1987-90.
