Mel Tucker, the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears the past two seasons, was named Thursday as Alabama's new defensive backs coach.
Tucker gives Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban a full complement of assistants again following the departures of inside linebackers coach Kevin Steele, LSU's new defensive coordinator, and outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson, who is now Auburn's linebackers coach. Tosh Lupoi was hired this week to replace Thompson, and Tucker coaching defensive backs will result in defensive coordinator Kirby Smart taking over the inside linebackers.
"I've known Mel for almost 20 years going back to Michigan State, when I hired him as a graduate assistant," Saban said. "He is an outstanding coach all the way around and really does an excellent job in terms of teaching the players. When you look at his college and NFL experience, his resume is very impressive, and he'll be a positive addition to our defensive staff.
"Mel's experience with the secondary will allow us to move Kirby back to coaching the inside linebackers, which has been most effective for our defensive coordinator."
Tucker was defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2009 to 2012. Jacksonville ranked sixth in the NFL in total defense in 2011, allowing 313 yards per game, and he was the interim coach for the final five games of that season.
Tucker also was Cleveland's defensive coordinator in 2008 but hasn't worked in college since 2004, when he finished a four-year stint at Ohio State. The 2002 Buckeyes won the national championship.
"I've known Coach Saban since I was 17 years old, and he recruited me when he was the head coach at Toledo," Tucker said. "He gave me my first job at Michigan State, and most of what I learned as a defensive backs coach came from him. He has always been extremely loyal to me and my family and is a trusted friend and mentor.
"We've become big Crimson Tide fans through the years, and our family actually went to the bowl games against Michigan State and Notre Dame."
Tucker was a graduate assistant under Saban at Michigan State in 1997 and reunited with him in 2000 at LSU before leaving for Ohio State.
Saban also announced Thursday the hiring of Jody Wright as director of player personnel. Wright was a graduate assistant with the Crimson Tide in 2010 and an offensive analyst in 2011 and '12.
McGraw decommits
Rico McGraw, a defensive back from Ensworth High in Nashville, decommitted from Alabama on Thursday and is scheduled to visit Georgia this weekend. McGraw committed to the Bulldogs last January but switched to the Crimson Tide in July.
The 6-foot, 190-pounder is rated by 247Sports.com's composite rankings as the nation's No. 20 safety prospect.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.