Tony Alford explains why he left Ohio State for Michigan football

It was a huge hit in Ann Arbor but drew substantial disdain in Columbus when longtime running backs coach Tony Alford departed Ohio State for the same position with Michigan football.

Getting Alford from Michigan’s archrival was a huge coup for new head coach Sherrone Moore, similar to when Day took two coaches from the Wolverines when he took over the Buckeyes.

Ohio State fans will tell you they were tired of Alford — both in recruiting and on-field production — while Michigan fans will equally say they’re excited about his ability to both recruit and develop. And as Alford says it, neither is particularly wrong.

Alford appeared on the John McCallister podcast and discussed the transition and why it was a good move for both him and OSU.

“Nine years is like an eternity in the coaching profession. And so I was very fortunate for those nine years as I said earlier, but I just think it was time and I think it was time for them and Ryan Day and Ohio State, and it was time for Tony Alford,” Alford said. “And so it wasn’t I don’t think it was any one party saying screw you, it was never any of that. I think for both parties, I think we both knew it was just time and I can tell you I’m as happy as I’ve been in a long time.”

Of course, Alford suffered three losses to the Wolverines during his time with the Buckeyes, but he won five in his tenure, as well. Now that he’s in Ann Arbor, he’s beyond thrilled that he switched sides from the dark side to the rebels.

“As far as in my coaching profession, I really, really am in a good place,” Alford said. “I’m in a good place. Sherrone Moore and that staff have been nothing but open arms and kind and great to me and really good people — I mean unbelievable people. And then so for that I’m grateful for them for embracing me and bringing me in from the rival, if you will, and in the way that they have. And like I said, I just think was time for everyone involved. No, I know it was time for everyone involved. Not think, I know — here we are.”

For a running backs coach, it’s somewhat of a no-brainer to prefer Ann Arbor over Columbus at the current moment as Michigan’s identity is centered on the run game while OSU prefers the pass game. We’ll see what early dividends Alford is able to bring in now that he coaches a position that is much more prioritized.