Kevin Steele is on the move again.

The University of Alabama inside linebackers coach accepted SEC Western Division rival LSU's offer to take over the Tigers' defense as the defensive coordinator.

Steele coached at Alabama under Nick Saban during two different stints, the first from 2007-08 as the defensive coordinator and as associate head coach, and the second in 2014 as inside linebackers coach. Steele was also on the Alabama support staff in 2013 as director of player personnel.

Steele earned more than $700,000 in 2014 as an assistant coach.

LSU underwent a two-week search for a defensive coordinator after John Chavis opted for a lateral move to take the same position at Texas A&M. Chavis made $1.3 million at LSU in 2014.

Alabama coach Nick Saban was not available for comment Tuesday evening, but LSU coach Les Miles was complimentary of Steele's defensive background.

"This is a great hire for us," Miles said in a statement. "Kevin has had a very successful coaching career, one that has seen him coach alongside some of the top coaches in the game. He won a national title with Tom Osborne at Nebraska, coached with Bobby Bowden at Florida State, and coached in the NFL with one of the great defensive coaches in Dom Capers.

"He has a great defensive mind and he's an outstanding recruiter," Miles continued. "He knows our players and our system and his knowledge of the SEC and the SEC Western Division makes him a great fit."

Coaching changes is nothing new for Alabama, which replaced three assistant coaches (offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, defensive line coach Chris Rumph and secondary coach Greg Brown for Lane Kiffin, Bo Davis and Steele, respectively) after the 2013 season.

Alabama coach Nick Saban also replaced three assistant coaches after the 2012 season (wide receivers coach Mike Groh, secondary coach Jeremy Pruitt and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland).

Steele left Alabama after the 2008 season to become Clemson's defensive coordinator. He returned to Tuscaloosa in 2013 for a support staff role and assumed on-the-field coaching duties at inside linebacker in 2014 when defensive coordinator Kirby Smart moved from linebackers to safeties coach when Brown left the staff.

Steele has a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the country, and he played a key role in Alabama's top-ranked 2014 and 2015 recruiting classes.

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.