He began coaching football in 1983 as a position coach for Ball State and he made his head coaching debut in 2000 for Michigan State.
He was a running back and defensive back for Purdue University from 1978 to 1982.
After coaching for Michigan State from 2000 to 2002, he forayed into the NFL for the first time, coaching wide receivers for the Detroit Lions in 2003.
He raised two children with his wife Sheila Williams.
In 2008, he took over the role of coaching tight ends and special teams for Alabama under head coach Nick Saban.