Big4Dawg
01-04-2016, 10:13 PM
The basics: Tucker, 43, is finishing up his first season as Alabama?s defensive backs coach. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Cleveland Heights High School. He later attended the University of Wisconsin, where he played defensive back for the Badgers and graduated in 1995.
Coaching history: Tucker?s first, full-time coaching job was at Miami (Ohio) in 1999 as a defensive backs after spending two seasons at Michigan State as a graduate assistant under Saban. He saw stints at LSU (under Saban) and Ohio State (2000-04) as defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator. Tucker entered the NFL coaching ring in 2005 with the Cleveland Browns, once again coaching the secondary. He then, from 2008-14, served as defensive coordinator for the Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears. This season, at UA, Tucker has helped lead Alabama?s secondary to 185.8 yards allowed per game through the air and 15 interceptions.
Accomplishments: Tucker was a part of Ohio State?s 2002 national championship team as the Buckeyes? defensive backs coach. Two seasons later, he was promoted to co-defensive coordinator.
He orchestrated a Jacksonville defense that was ranked No. 6 in the NFL in terms of the yards it allowed its opponents (313.0) in 2011 ? the same year he was interim head coach of the Jaguars.
In 2012, Tucker was reportedly offered the head coaching position at Wisconsin. He turned it down.
Connections: Tucker began his coaching career under Saban at Michigan State and also worked for the Crimson Tide head coach at LSU. He also possesses an extensive NFL resume. But his best connection is he?s already in Tuscaloosa, knows the players and has a year of recruiting under his belt.
Standout statement: ?First of all, Mel does a great job with the kids,? Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said in August. ?He has a great demeanor. Kids really respect him. They know he?s got a lot of NFL experience, so he comes in very confident. He?s worked with Coach Saban before. He knows all of our terminology, understands it. He?s able to relate to the kids and talk to them about it. He does a really good job as a teacher with the kids.
?He?s helped me tremendously from the perspective of, ?What are new ways to create turnovers? How did we do it everywhere I?ve been?? You get somebody with that much experience, with the people he?s coached under and with, it?s very efficient for us as a defense. So we?re able to show, ?This is how they did it here, this is how they did it here,? and when you turn on a clip of an NFL drill, eyes pop open a little more. It?s new, it?s new change for the kids. It?s exciting.?
http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/Next-up-A-closer-look-at-Mel-Tucker-as-defensive-coordinator-41677645
Coaching history: Tucker?s first, full-time coaching job was at Miami (Ohio) in 1999 as a defensive backs after spending two seasons at Michigan State as a graduate assistant under Saban. He saw stints at LSU (under Saban) and Ohio State (2000-04) as defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator. Tucker entered the NFL coaching ring in 2005 with the Cleveland Browns, once again coaching the secondary. He then, from 2008-14, served as defensive coordinator for the Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears. This season, at UA, Tucker has helped lead Alabama?s secondary to 185.8 yards allowed per game through the air and 15 interceptions.
Accomplishments: Tucker was a part of Ohio State?s 2002 national championship team as the Buckeyes? defensive backs coach. Two seasons later, he was promoted to co-defensive coordinator.
He orchestrated a Jacksonville defense that was ranked No. 6 in the NFL in terms of the yards it allowed its opponents (313.0) in 2011 ? the same year he was interim head coach of the Jaguars.
In 2012, Tucker was reportedly offered the head coaching position at Wisconsin. He turned it down.
Connections: Tucker began his coaching career under Saban at Michigan State and also worked for the Crimson Tide head coach at LSU. He also possesses an extensive NFL resume. But his best connection is he?s already in Tuscaloosa, knows the players and has a year of recruiting under his belt.
Standout statement: ?First of all, Mel does a great job with the kids,? Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said in August. ?He has a great demeanor. Kids really respect him. They know he?s got a lot of NFL experience, so he comes in very confident. He?s worked with Coach Saban before. He knows all of our terminology, understands it. He?s able to relate to the kids and talk to them about it. He does a really good job as a teacher with the kids.
?He?s helped me tremendously from the perspective of, ?What are new ways to create turnovers? How did we do it everywhere I?ve been?? You get somebody with that much experience, with the people he?s coached under and with, it?s very efficient for us as a defense. So we?re able to show, ?This is how they did it here, this is how they did it here,? and when you turn on a clip of an NFL drill, eyes pop open a little more. It?s new, it?s new change for the kids. It?s exciting.?
http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/Next-up-A-closer-look-at-Mel-Tucker-as-defensive-coordinator-41677645