“I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME”: TONY ALFORD REVEALS REASONS HE LEFT OHIO STATE FOR MICHIGAN AND THANKS BUCKEYE COACHES, PLAYERS AND FANS FOR PAST NINE YEARS

Tony Alford gave an overview of his motivations for moving from Columbus to Ann Arbor in March during his first press conference as the running backs coach at Michigan.

Alford remarked, “I felt it was a tremendous chance for me.” “Sherrone Moore, the head coach of Michigan, is someone I greatly admire.” He’s someone I’ve known for a long time. It was just time, in my opinion. Perhaps it was time for everyone. I’m not sure. However, I believed that it was a terrific chance and that the moment had come.

Alford, who has spent the last nine seasons dressing in scarlet and gray, described it as “strange” to wear Michigan gear while sporting a blue pullover with an embroidered maize M emblem on his chest. After defensive line coach Larry Johnson, Alford has been Ohio State’s running backs coach in 2015. This made him the second-longest tenured assistant on the Buckeyes’ staff. He helped the Buckeyes develop players like TreVeyon Henderson, J.K. Dobbins, and Ezekiel Elliott during his time there.

Alford praised Ohio State’s players, coaches, and supporters on Wednesday for their hospitality over the previous ten years.

“I must express this. Because of everything Ohio State and the Ohio State community have done for my family and me throughout the years, I have the utmost regard for them. Alford stated, “It was not an easy decision.” “Whenever you spend as much time as I did—nine years—in a place, certain groups tend to become entrenched both personally and professionally. That was challenging. Ultimately, though, I felt that it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I was unable to turn down the opportunity.

“I have a great deal of respect for Ohio State, the Ohio State Community, and everything they have done for my family and me over the years. IT WAS HARD TO MAKE A DECISION.About leaving Ohio State for Michigan, Tony Alford

Alford refused to provide a more thorough explanation of why he left Ryan Day’s crew.

“Those who have to know, already know,” he declared. “For whatever reason, you take professional actions that are in your best interest. I took that action, and thus we are here.

When asked what impressed him most about Michigan, Alford listed the staff’s cohesion and the players’ toughness as the two key reasons he is eager to lead the Wolverines.

“This place has a hard established level of toughness,” Alford remarked. The players have benefited from Sherrone’s efforts to maintain harmony, stability, and alignment among the staff. That’s the only thing that caught our attention. It was the personnel alignment, especially with regard to the offensive personnel.

Donovan Edwards, Kalel Mullings, and Benjamin Hall will be Michigan’s top three ballcarriers in the running back room. In the 2024 class, the Wolverines also recruited Jordan Marshall, a four-star recruit that Alford tried to sign while he was the Buckeyes’ coach.

Alford expressed his excitement about working with the group in the next spring, summer, and fall.

“They desire coaching.” They’re eager to learn. They want to study so badly,” he remarked. They have a lot of fun while they play. That, in my opinion, is the culture that has developed here. There is a tough culture there. It’s been excellent to observe how they practice and conduct themselves on a regular basis. That has been enjoyable.

GET MORE NEWS HERE