Marshall hires Alabama assistant Huff as coach

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Marshall has given Alabama’s Charles Huff his first head coaching job.

Marshall announced Huff’s hiring Sunday. Huff spent the past two seasons as the Crimson Tide’s associate head coach and running backs coach and is widely known as a top recruiter.

The 37-year-old Huff is Marshall’s first Black head football coach. He is a 2005 graduate of Hampton, where he played center, guard, fullback and tight end.

Huff replaces Conference USA coach of the year Doc Holliday, whose contract was not renewed. Marshall started the season 7-0 and moved up to No. 15 in The Associated Press poll before losing its final three games. Holliday went 85-54 in 11 seasons, winning the league title in 2014.

ANOTHER HIRE: Michigan hired Baltimore Ravens linebacker coach Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator.

The 33-year-old Macdonald replaces Don Brown, who recently became the defensive coordinator at Arizona.