Alabama football officially announced the hiring of former Crimson Tide player Jason Jones as assistant defensive backs coach on Friday. News of the hire’s finalization had already been reported Tuesday by AL.com, but the official word came with Jones’ final title.

Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer said in the UA news release that he was thrilled to add Jones to his staff for the 2025 season.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to add coach Jones to our staff,” DeBoer said in the release. “He has a proven track record of success with defensive backs, and I know he will be able to make a significant impact on that group along with our defense as a whole. It is also great to be able to add a guy who played and coached here, and his knowledge of this university is invaluable.”

Jones won an SEC championship as an Alabama player in 1999, as a defensive back. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Mike Shula.

This time around, he joins Alabama after a stint at North Carolina.

“The University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa are special places to me,” Jones said in the release. “My coaching career started here as a graduate assistant, and to be able to come home and coach at your alma mater is truly a blessing. I am so thankful to coach DeBoer for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great staff, and I am excited to be back. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Jones’ addition to the staff follows Alabama opting not to bring back Colin Hitschler. Before working at North Carolina, Jones took prior coaching stops at Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Tulsa and Rice.

While on staff at Ole Miss, he worked with Dave Wommack, father of current Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. Jones joins Maurice Linguist in coaching Alabama’s defensive backs for next season.