Former Alabama running back Trent Richardson will be joining Hoover’s football staff, the program announced Tuesday afternoon.

He will serve as one of the running backs coaches, Hoover coach Drew Gilmer told AL.com. He has been with the program for a few weeks as a volunteer, but has recently been board approved.

Gilmer said he heard of Richardson’s interest through mutual friends and reached out to him about a position with the program.

“We started getting together and talking, and it was something he wanted to try to do, and we’re excited to have him,” Gilmer said. “He’s been a huge addition to our staff already, a guy with that kind of experience and that kind of knowledge and has seen it done at the very top level. Getting good quality, high-quality character men like that around our kids is always a good thing.”

Richardson was announced as the running backs coach at Ramsay High School in April.

Richardson helped lead Alabama to a pair of BCS national championships — the first in 2009 and the second in 2011. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and was awarded the Doak Walker Award in 2011 before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the third overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft.

“It’s a guy that has some clout, and has seen it done very top level,” Gilmer said. “Again, the big thing that he brings is the type of man he is, and then the things that he wants to do to help grow these young men and, too, like I said, get them ready for the next level and being ready for the next level, so if they have the opportunity to go play at the next level, when they get there, they’re prepared.

“He’s already done a phenomenal job of improving our staff and we’re really fortunate to have him.”

Hoover finished last season with a 5-7 record, advancing to the second round of the Class 7A playoffs before falling to Hewitt-Trussville.

Gilmer spent the last seven seasons as head coach at Clay-Chalkville. He helped lead the program to a pair of Class 6A titles.