Muschamp, Steele will be in town

FLORENCE -- The defensive coordinator from both Alabama and Auburn will be in the Shoals this week.

Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will speak at The Shoals Auburn Club's annual Summertime Dinner and Silent Auction on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church on East Mobile Street in Florence.

Muschamp is beginning his second season as the Tigers' defensive coordinator. He previously has spent one year as defensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins and four years at LSU.

Under Muschamp, Auburn ranked seventh in the nation in scoring defense last season.

Also appearing from Auburn will be Debbie Shaw, Vice President of Alumni Affairs and 6-time UCA national mascot champion AUBIE.

Tickets are on sale through Thursday at all Bank Independent locations and at McCorkle's Furniture in Florence.

Meanwhile, new Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will be the featured speaker at a coaching clinic Friday, sponsored by Inside Alabama High School Football Magazine. The clinic will be held at the Marriott Conference Center, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Other speakers at the clinic include: former UNA and current West Alabama coach Bobby Wallace; former UNA player and West Alabama assistant coach Sam Graham; Prattville High School coach Bill Clark; Athens High School coach Alan Creasy and Mary Montgomery High School coach Scott Lesley.

Wallace and Graham will speak at 2:30 p.m.; followed by Clark at 3:30; Creasy at 4:30; Lesley at 5:30 and Steele at 6:30.

Former Russellville coach Perry Swindall is coordinating the coaching clinic. Swindall, now the defensive coordinator at Spain Park in Birmingham said the clinic will be a great learning experience for any coach who attends.

"This event is something that coaches will really enjoy," Swindall said. "It's a great way for coaches in Northwest Alabama to get together and hear some good football talk from some very credible people.

"Coaches are always looking for new ideas and this is a great chance to hear about what teams in other parts of the state are doing. We have some outstanding coaches lined up to speak."

Steele was hired by new Alabama coach Nick Saban in January. He came to Alabama from Florida State, where he coached linebackers for the past four years. Steele has coached at a variety of places including Nebraska and Tennessee. He spent also four years coaching linebackers for the Carolina Panthers. He was head coach at Baylor from 1999-2002.

"I've watched coach Steele at practice and he is a very impressive coach," Swindall said. "He has been successful everywhere he has coached. He is a teacher first, and he believes in multiple schemes. I know he will give us some good ideas on linebacker play."

The cost of the coaching clinic is $25 to pre-register and $35 at the door. The clinic is open to the public. The magazine is also sponsoring a golf tournament Friday at 8 a.m. at the Robert Trent Jones course. The tournament is a 4-man scramble and has an entry fee of $300. For details, call 256-810-4908.

Jeff McIntyre can be reached at 740-5737 or jeff.mcintyre@timesdaily.com.