Nine years after leaving Alabama to become a first-round pick in 2014, former Tide safety HaHa Clinton-Dix returned to the program this offseason as director of player development.

Clinton-Dix, who officially retired from the NFL in December, has a wide-ranging role that Nick Saban described as coaching players in “everything but football.”

But Clinton-Dix has plenty of experience in football, too. He was part of back-to-back national championship teams in 2011 and 2012, and was a consensus All-American in 2013. He spent five seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2014-18, including making the Pro Bowl in 2016.

“Appreciate the fact that he wants to be here,” Saban said Wednesday. “It always makes me happy when we have guys that played here and had great careers in the NFL, made the Pro Bowl, and they want to come back and be part of the program. So we welcomed him, and he’s done a fantastic job for us.”

Clinton-Dix joined Alabama for its Sugar Bowl week in New Orleans, but was baptized as a Saban staff member in February. “1st day on the Job I got a Ass Chewing from Coach Saban,” Clinton-Dix tweeted Feb. 21. “1 down 5 million to go. #RolltideRoll”

Saban, though, offered extensive praise Wednesday for Clinton-Dix’s performance in his new role.

“He’s got great character. He’s a great person, sets a really good example, has got really good leadership,” Saban said. “The players, sort of, migrate to him. He gives them great advice and direction and things that they can do to help accomplish their goals. He’s just done a fantastic job for us.”

Clinton-Dix joined a player development staff that includes two other former Alabama players in Josh Chapman (director of player development) and Denzel Devall (player personnel/player development assistant). It also includes assistant director of player development for character and career development Evan Van Nostrand, a retired Marine and two-time Purple Heart recipient.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.