COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio State’s running backs coach is heading to the Buckeyes’ biggest rival.

NBC4 confirmed that Tony Alford, who has been with the Buckeyes coaching staff since 2015, has left Ohio State. Reports indicated that Alford will take the same position with national champion Michigan after its former running backs coach Mike Hart chose to leave.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Alford changed his social media bio to state he was Michigan’s new running backs coach.

Alford, 55, is from Akron and has been coaching in college football since 1995 after playing as a running back for Colorado State from 1987 to 1990. He has served as a running backs coach for multiple programs, including Washington, Louisville, and Notre Dame.

After being with the Fighting Irish for five years in various positions, he joined Ohio State in 2015 as the running backs coach and assistant head coach. Alford became the run-game coordinator in 2022 and has coached multiple Buckeyes star running backs such as J.K. Dobbins, Ezekiel Elliott, Mike Weber, and TreVeyon Henderson.

Alford’s departure continues a plethora of coaching changes in Columbus this year that includes Chip Kelly coming in as the offensive coordinator after the hiring and subsequent departure of Bill O’Brien.

The Wolverines are also going through big coaching changes as well with former offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore promoted to become the head coach. Moore took the position days after long-time head coach Jim Harbaugh left to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.