Craig Kuligowski walked into Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday and felt at home. It makes sense, considering it virtually was his home for the last two football seasons.
His return comes under different circumstances, though. He has the same job as a defensive line coach, but the UM orange and green has been swapped for Alabama crimson and white. And his appearance comes with the top-ranked Crimson Tide set to face No. 4 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Saturday for a spot in the College Football Playoff championship game.
It has been nine months since Kuligowski left the Hurricanes to coach under Nick Saban at Alabama, but the guy players affectionately call “Coach Kool” does not take his time in Coral Gables for granted.