Once again, Alabama football reportedly has a full offensive coaching staff. Following the departure of coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff to the NFL — and the ensuing elevation of tight ends coach Nick Sheridan to Grubb’s old role — Kalen DeBoer has made new hires.

Chris Kapilovic is set to lead the offensive line, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Shortly after that news was announced, multiple outlets confirmed that former UAB quarterback Bryan Ellis would coach tight ends (Tide 100.9′s Ryan C. Fowler was the first to report Ellis).

Kapilovic was hired as Baylor’s offensive line coach on Dec. 12 after spending four seasons at Michigan State. A former offensive tackle at Missouri State in 1989-90, he has over 30 years of coaching experience and attended high school in Arizona. Kapilovic has worked in Colorado, North Carolina, Southern Miss, Kansas and held various roles at Alabama State from 2001-05.

With the Tarheels, Kapilovic assisted in the development of Jonathan Cooper, the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. North Carolina’s 2015 offensive line was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, which honors the best overall group in the country. He will now be tasked with helping Alabama’s offensive line replace three starters, both tackle spots and the center position.

Ellis, 35, will head to Tuscaloosa from Georgia Southern, where he’s been offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2022. Ellis played quarterback at UAB from 2007-11, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

He started his coaching career with the Blazers as a graduate assistant and spent time at Western Kentucky, continuing to develop a relationship with his old coach Tyson Helton. Ellis spent two years on with Helton’s brother Clay at Southern California, first as an analyst and then as a quarterback’s coach, where he worked with Sam Darnold.

As a play-caller with Georgia Southern, the Eagles set program records for passing yards as Ellis adapted out of a triple-option offense. Alabama will return CJ Dippre, Robbie Ouzts and Danny Lewis Jr. to its tight end room this spring. Yet, Ellis will have to find a replacement for Amari Niblack, who caught four touchdowns as a sophomore before transferring to Texas.

UA has only confirmed the hires of DeBoer, defensive line coach Freddie Roach and running backs coach Robert Gillespie. But the additions of Kapilovic and Ellis fill the gap created when Grubb and Huff opted to return to Seattle.

DeBoer’s inaugural coaching staff includes:

• Kane Wommack (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• Nick Sheridan (offensive coordinator)
• Freddie Roach (assistant head coach/defensive line)
• Maurice Linguist (defensive backs/co-defensive coordinator)
• Colin Hitschler (defensive backs/co-defensive coordinator)
• JaMarcus Shephard (wide receivers)
• Chris Kapilovic (offensive line)
• Bryan Ellis (tight ends)
• Robert Gillespie (running backs/assistant head coach)

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].