Robert Bala
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | co-Defensive Coordinator/Inside linebackers |
| Team | Florida |
| Conference | SEC |
| Biographical details | |
| Alma mater | Southern Utah University (2008) |
| Playing career | |
| 2004–2005 | Palomar |
| 2006–2007 | Southern Utah |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2009–2010 | Snow (LB) |
| 2011–2013 | Palomar (DC) |
| 2015–2016 | Palomar (DC) |
| 2014 | Oakland Raiders (intern) |
| 2017 | OUAZ (ST) |
| 2018–2021 | Southern Utah (DC/LB/CB) |
| 2022 | Liberty (analyst) |
| 2023 | Alabama (LB) |
| 2024–2025 | Washington (ILB) |
| 2025-present | Florida (co-DC/ILB) |
Robert Bala is an American college football coach. He is the Inside linebackers coach for the Florida Gators.
Coaching career
Bala got his first coaching job in 2009 as the linebackers coach for Snow College.[1] In 2011, he was hired by Palomar College as the team's defensive coordinator.[2] In 2014, he joined the Oakland Raiders as a linebackers coach and special teams intern; after one season, he returned to Palomar.[3] In 2017, Bala was hired by Ottawa University in Arizona as the team's special teams coordinator.[4] In 2018, he was hired by his alma mater Southern Utah as the team's cornerbacks coach. Over the next few years, he was promoted in 2019 to coach the team's cornerbacks and be the co-special team's coordinator, and in 2020 he was promoted to safeties coach and defensive coordinator. In 2021 he became the team's linebackers coach and defensive coordinator.[5] In 2022, Bala was hired by the Liberty Flames as a defensive analyst.[6] For the 2023 season, he joined the Alabama Crimson Tide to coach the team's linebackers.[7] After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Bala was not retained under new head coach Kalen DeBoer.[8] He then became Western Michigan's defensive coordinator.[9]
References
- ^ Tsoukalas, Tony (January 18, 2024). "Alabama moving on from Robert Bala at ILB coach". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Potter, Charlie (January 18, 2024). "ILB coach Robert Bala says goodbye to Alabama after not being retained". On3.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Stephen (February 25, 2023). "Who is Robert Bala? Alabama's new inside linebackers coach". Touchdown Alabama. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Rodak, Mike (February 25, 2023). "Alabama hiring former Hugh Freeze assistant to coach inside linebackers". AL.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Nick (March 3, 2023). "What Nick Saban said about new Alabama football inside linebackers coach Robert Bala". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Alvarez, Nick (January 18, 2024). "Linebackers coach Robert Bala teases departure, thanks Alabama for 'opportunity'". AL.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Feldman, Bruce (February 25, 2023). "Liberty's Robert Bala joining Alabama staff as inside linebackers coach". The Athletic. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Nick (January 18, 2024). "Alabama football assistant coach signals departure after Kalen DeBoer replaces Nick Saban". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Ehler, Matthew (February 2024). "WMU hires former Alabama LB coach Robert Bala as new defensive coordinator". MLive.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.