Report: Alabama to name Mel Tucker secondary coach

Mel Tucker appears to be heading to Tuscaloosa.

The former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator was reportedly hired by Alabama and is expected to coach its secondary, according to Sports Illustrated's Thayer Evans.

This would mark Tucker's second coaching experience with Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, with whom he worked as a graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1997-98, when Saban was the head coach.

Tucker helped the Bears' secondary finish third in the league with 19 interceptions. They were 30th in the league in pass yards allowed per game with 264.4.

Evans also reported that Tucker's move will mean Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will once again coach the Crimson Tide's inside linebackers.