Official: Georgia hires Alabama DB coach Mel Tucker as new DC

UPDATE (11 a.m. ET Jan. 12)

Georgia made the Mel Tucker hire official the morning after Alabama’s 45-40 College Football Playoff National Championship Game win over Clemson.

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Alabama defensive backs coach Mel Tucker will be the new defensive coordinator at Georgia, according to a report by Fox Sports.

Alabama’s outgoing defensive coordinator, Kirby Smart, is the new head coach of the Bulldogs.

Tucker spent one season coaching the Alabama secondary, which ha shown a marked improvement from last season. Prior to Alabama, Tucker was a defensive coordinator for the NFL’s Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns.

Tucker’s other collegiate experience includes a short stint as a co-defensive coordinator with Ohio State in 2004. He also coached defensive back at Miami-Ohio (1999), LSU (2000) and Ohio State (2001-03).

Georgia, which finished the season 10-3 after defeating Penn State in the TaxSlayer Bowl, ranked fifth nationally in total defense. It allowed 298 yards per game and 16.9 points per game, which was fourth in the SEC.

Tucker and Smart are currently finishing out their Alabama careers preparing for Monday’s National Championship Game against Clemson.

For more Georgia news, visit UGASports.com.

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