After initially accepting the defensive coordinator job on Lance Taylor's staff at Western Michigan just over two weeks ago, Robert Bala was presented with an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
Bala was announced as the new inside linebackers coach at Washington earlier today.
He spent last season on Nick Saban's final staff at Alabama, and was not retained on Kalen DeBoer's staff in Tuscaloosa.
Ironically, Bala replaces Washington co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach William Inge, who left to fill the spot vacated by Bala in Tuscaloosa. So the two essentially swapped spots.
Considered widely as a fast rising star in the coaching profession, Bala was picked by Saban to fill the linebackers job for the Tide after he spent the 2022 season as a defensive analyst for High Freeze at Liberty. He also spent a few seasons as the defensive coordinator at Southern Utah (FCS), so he brings valuable recruiting relationships from the area surrounding Washington.
The hire completes Jedd Fisch's staff in Seattle. He brought a total of seven coaches from Arizona, added two defensive coaches from the New England Patriots, and Bala marks the final on-field hire.
See Fisch's full staff via our Washington Staff Tracker page.