Alabama football’s SEC rival hires former Tide offensive line coach

Less than a month after splitting from Alabama, Chris Kapilovic is heading to the other side of the Iron Bowl rivalry.

Auburn football announced that Kapilovic is joining the staff as an offensive analyst.

Kapilovic spent two seasons with the Crimson Tide as the offensive line coach and was part of Kalen DeBoer’s initial staff in Tuscaloosa, but Alabama collapsed up front this year in some crucial moments. Alabama never found a true starting five, and the Crimson Tide was one spot away from finishing last in the SEC in rushing yards per game.

Fans begged DeBoer to move on from Kapilovic and go in a different direction, and a few weeks after Alabama’s embarrassing loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl, it happened.

Alabama fired Kapilovic on Jan. 24, and this decision came after the Crimson Tide secured all of their newest offensive linemen from the transfer portal. Adrian Klemm will be the new offensive line coach this season, and he brings something that Kapilovic does not: NFL coaching experience.

It’s not often that coaches can say they have been on both sides of the Iron Bowl, but that’s something that Kapilovic will be able to say. The Iron Bowl will be in Tuscaloosa this season, meaning Kapilovic will make his return to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 28.