Connect with us

Published

on

Kevin Steele has agreed to a deal to become Alabama‘s defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN.

This will be Steele’s third different stint at Alabama under Nick Saban, who now has both of his coordinator positions filled after hiring Tommy Rees from Notre Dame on Friday for offensive coordinator.

Steele, 64, is a 39-year coaching veteran who spent last season as Miami‘s defensive coordinator. Steele was Saban’s first defensive coordinator at Alabama in 2007 and moved to defensive head coach/inside linebackers coach that next season. Steele returned to Alabama in 2013 as director of player personnel and shifted back on the field in 2014 as linebackers coach, before moving to LSU as defensive coordinator in 2015.

Steele replaces Pete Golding, who left last month to take the Ole Miss defensive coordinator job. Saban has typically brought in defensive coordinators he has coached with in the past and who know his defensive system. Steele checks both boxes and is widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in college football, having recruited the SEC footprint extensively.

In addition to Alabama and LSU, Steele has served as defensive coordinator at Auburn and Clemson. He has worked under some of the biggest names in the college game, including Bobby Bowden, Tom Osborne, Johnny Majors, Dabo Swinney and Saban.

Steele was a Broyles Award finalist in 2017 at Auburn as the top assistant coach in college football. He was out of coaching during the 2021 season after not being retained on the Auburn staff when Gus Malzahn was fired in 2020. Steele spent a few months at Tennessee, his alma mater, as interim head coach prior to Josh Heupel being hired.

Saban also interviewed Todd Grantham for the defensive coordinator job, but Grantham decided to instead return to the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.

Continue Reading

Sports

White Sox put Meidroth on IL with bruised thumb

Published

on

By

White Sox put Meidroth on IL with bruised thumb

SEATTLE — The Chicago White Sox placed rookie shortstop Chase Meidroth on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right thumb contusion ahead of their 4-3, 11-inning loss in their series finale against the Seattle Mariners.

Meidroth, who is hitting .252 with three home runs, 15 RBIs and 11 stolen bases, said he will be shut down from swinging for “a few days.” He hasn’t registered an at-bat since July 30 against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he was hit by a Taijuan Walker sinker in the fifth inning.

Also Thursday, Chicago selected the contract of shortstop Jacob Amaya from Triple-A Charlotte and designated right-handed pitcher Gus Varland for assignment.

Continue Reading

Sports

Ticket to reprise: Mets honor Beatles’ Shea 60th

Published

on

By

Ticket to reprise: Mets honor Beatles' Shea 60th

NEW YORK — The Mets will honor the 60th anniversary of the Fab Four’s performance at Shea Stadium, where they will host the Mariners on Aug. 15 for The Beatles Night at Citi Field.

The 1965 performance was a milestone because The Beatles became the first rock band to perform a major stadium concert. A 50-minute documentary titled “The Beatles at Shea Stadium” captured the show. At the time, the multipurpose stadium was home to the Mets and New York Jets.

The celebration will begin with a performance by 1964 the Tribute in front of Shea Bridge at 6:15 p.m. ET. The first 15,000 fans to enter Citi Field will receive an exclusive Shea Stadium replica.

The first pitch will be thrown by members of the game-day staff who worked the famous concert. A themed fireworks show will be held after the game.

Continue Reading

Sports

M’s Naylor exits with sore shoulder after swing

Published

on

By

M's Naylor exits with sore shoulder after swing

SEATTLE — Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor left Thursday’s 4-3 victory against the Chicago White Sox in the third inning because of shoulder soreness, manager Dan Wilson said.

In his first at-bat against White Sox starter Shane Smith, Naylor grimaced after swinging at a high, inside fastball. He walked down the first base line and back before finishing his at-bat, which ended with a strikeout.

Naylor stayed in the game, but later exited after grounding out to second base to end the third inning.

Wilson told reporters after the game that Naylor is day-to-day.

Naylor, one of Seattle’s notable trade deadline acquisitions from the Arizona Diamondbacks, is hitting .289, with 14 home runs, 65 RBI and 21 stolen bases this season. Since joining the Mariners, the left-hander is batting .261 with three home runs and 10 stolen bases.

While with the Diamondbacks, the left-handed hitter was pulled from a June 23 game — also against the White Sox — in the fourth inning due to right shoulder discomfort. Naylor avoided a stint on the injured list and returned to the lineup two days later.

Donovan Solano, who hadn’t played in two weeks, took over at first base for Seattle when Naylor exited.

The Mariners, who swept a series for the first time since July 11-13, moved within 1 1/2 games of first-place Houston in the American League West.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Continue Reading

Trending