Alabama hires ex-Michigan assistant football coach ahead of CFP semifinal against the Wolverines… reigniting spying talk in the wake of Conor Stalions scandal

Alabama has added ex-Michigan assistant George Helow to its coaching staff ahead of the team's CFP semifinal against the Wolverines, according to multiple media outlets.

Helow served as Michigan's linebackers coach under head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2021 and 2022. He left the Big 10 East program shortly after Michigan rehired Chris Partridge from Ole Miss to coach the linebackers.

He was not part of the coaching staff for any team this season.

The details of Helow's new role are not yet known, but it appears he will not be on the Tide's sidelines as one of ten on-field assistants. The Athletics.

Alabama, ranked No. 4 in the country, will face No. 1 Michigan on New Year's Day in the CFP semifinal of the Rose Bowl Game. It is played in New Orleans.

A former defensive back at Ole Miss, Helow is credited with developing two current Michigan linebackers, Michael Barrett and Junior Colson – two pillars of Michigan's defense.

He also worked under Wolverines defensive coordinator Jesse Minter in 2022.

Last month, Partridge was fired by Michigan for “failing to comply with the university's directive not to discuss an ongoing NCAA investigation with anyone associated with the Michigan football program.”

Helow was replaced at Michigan by Chris Partridge, although the latter was fired last month

Alabama coach Nick Saban hired Helow in an effort to better understand Michigan's defense

In a statement released after his firing, Partridge claimed he had no knowledge of the banned off-campus signal-stealing scheme being carried out by former Michigan staffer Conor Stalions.

Before his time at Michigan, Helow coached at Maryland and Colorado State.

His latest hire will be a full-circle moment, as he began his coaching career as an intern for Alabama coach Nick Saban in 2012.

He later had coaching stints at Florida State and Georgia.