On Monday Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced the hiring of Mike Groh, who will serve as wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator with the Crimson Tide. Groh, a former quarterback at the University of Virginia, joins Alabama’s coaching staff after serving as the quarterback coach at Louisville last season. Groh spent eight years at Virginia (2001-2008) and three of those seasons coaching the wide receivers.

“We are excited to have Mike join our staff,” Saban said. “He did an outstanding job here a year ago and when he left, he was one that I hoped we could bring back to Alabama at some point.

Groh spent the 2009 season at Alabama as an offensive graduate assistant as the Crimson Tide recorded a 14-0 record en route to the national championship.

“He knows the game and what we want to do in terms of philosophy and terminology from an offensive standpoint,” Saban said. “He relates well to the players and is also a very good recruiter. We are pleased to have Mike and Elena [Groh’s wife] back with our football program at the University of Alabama.”

Groh said, “Having been at the University of Alabama for the 2009 national championship season, I have a great appreciation for the Alabama football tradition and the first-class manner in which Coach Saban runs his program. The opportunity to join Coach Saban’s staff at Alabama is special and I’m excited to be back. I had a terrific experience last season coaching for Charlie Strong at Louisville and learned a great deal from him. Under his direction, I’m confident they will compete for many Big East championships in the years to come.”