Miami hires Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator after reportedly set to join Maryland’s staff: Sources

At long last, Mario Cristobal has hired Kevin Steele as its defensive coordinator at the University of Miami, sources confirmed to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman on Tuesday night. ON3 first reported the news.

The 63-year-old veteran, Steele, has coached defenses for Nick Saban at Alabama, Les Miles at LSU, Gus Malzahn at Auburn and Dabo Swinney at Clemson. He also coached linebackers at Florida State under Bobby Bowden and at Nebraska under Tom Osborne.

Steele started working as Maryland’s defensive coordinator last Friday before Cristobal swooped in and brought him to Coral Gables. They coached together for two years at Alabama in 2013 and 2014 when Steele was the Crimson Tide’s director of player personnel and linebacker coach.

Steele, a South Carolina native who played linebacker at Tennessee for Johnny Majors, didn’t coach in 2021. Miami was among the worst tackling teams in the country in 2021 under former coach Manny Diaz.

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