Alabama is turning the page on its offensive line, and the next chapter includes a familiar name with a deep résumé. Adrian Klemm, a veteran coach with both NFL and college experience, is heading to Tuscaloosa to take over as the Crimson Tide’s new offensive line coach.
Klemm spent the past year at USC, working as a defensive analyst-a curious assignment given his pedigree. While he was technically on the defensive side in Los Angeles, Klemm’s coaching roots run deep on the offensive line. And now, he’s back in his element, stepping into a high-profile role at one of college football’s premier programs.
Before his brief stint at USC, Klemm was the offensive line coach for the New England Patriots in 2023, Oregon in 2022, and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. That’s three straight years of high-level experience across both the NFL and Power Five college football, all focused on building and managing offensive fronts.
But Klemm’s coaching career really took shape at UCLA, where he held down the offensive line coach and run game coordinator roles from 2012 to 2016. That five-year stretch gave him a strong foundation in recruiting, player development, and scheme design-skills that will be put to the test in the SEC.
As a player, Klemm was no stranger to success either. He starred at Hawaii in the late ‘90s before being drafted into the NFL, where he spent six seasons and earned three Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots. That kind of championship pedigree doesn’t just look good on a résumé-it resonates with players in the locker room.
At Alabama, Klemm steps in for Chris Kapilovic, who was let go following the Crimson Tide’s blowout loss to eventual national champion Indiana in the Rose Bowl. That defeat marked the end of a two-year run for Kapilovic, and it signaled a need for change in the trenches.
Now, with Klemm in charge, Alabama is hoping to re-establish the kind of dominance up front that has long been a hallmark of the program. His arrival brings not only experience but also a track record of developing linemen who can thrive in both college and the pros.
For a team with championship expectations every season, the offensive line is more than just a position group-it’s a tone-setter. And Adrian Klemm’s job will be to make sure Alabama’s line plays like it.