Football
Colin Hitschler
- Title:
- Assistant Coach, Defensive Coordinator
- Alma Mater:
- Penn, '10
- Year at UCLA:
- 1st in 2026
Colin Hitschler enters his first season as defensive coordinator for the UCLA football program in 2026. He arrived in Westwood in December 2025 after spending the previous season in the same role at James Madison University.
Hitschler has reached the College Football Playoff (CFP) twice in a defensive coordinator role, earning berths at James Madison in 2025 and Cincinnati in 2021. He was previously named the 2020 Football Scoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year and listed to On3’s 2022 Rising Star Assistants You Need to Know.
The 2026 campaign marks Hitschler’s 16th year in coaching, including his 15th at the collegiate ranks. Hitschler has now served on head coach Bob Chesney’s staffs at three different schools.
Most recently, Hitschler and Chesney helped James Madison reach new heights in their one year together in Harrisonburg, Va. in 2025. The Dukes recorded just the 10th unbeaten conference record in Sun Belt history, going 8-0, and captured the program’s first Sun Belt Championship. James Madison secured a spot in the CFP for the first time in school history with the No. 12 seed and earned its highest AP ranking in program history at No. 19. The Dukes finished the season with a 12-2 record following their CFP First Round appearance.
Hitschler presided over one of the nation’s elite defenses in his one season at James Madison, ranking fifth in the FBS with 266.6 yards allowed per game and 14th with 18.4 points allowed per game. The Dukes held opponents to under 200 yards of total offense in five contests and led the Sun Belt with 181.6 passing yards allowed per game. After halftime, Hitschler’s defense pitched six shutouts and limited opponents to an average of just 5.4 points. James Madison was also eighth in the country in third down defense (29.4%), 10th in defensive touchdowns (3), 28th in sacks per game (2.57) and 32nd in tackles for loss per game (6.2).
Eight players from Hitschler’s 2025 defensive unit were named All-Sun Belt, including the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year linebacker Trent Hendrick and Freshman of the Year defensive lineman Sahir West. Hendrick led the Dukes with 106 total tackles while West ranked second among all freshmen in the nation with 7.0 sacks and was third in the Sun Belt with 14.0 tackles for loss.
Prior to James Madison, Hitschler served as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Alabama in 2024. In his lone season in Tuscaloosa, Hitschler helped the Crimson tide to a 9-4 record and No. 11 ranking in the final CFP rankings prior to the postseason. Under the direction of Hitschler, Alabama ranked fifth in the FBS and second in the Southeastern Conference with 28 takeaways. His safeties group, highlighted by All-SEC First Team performer Malachi Moore, forced 16 of those 28 opposing turnovers.
The Tide were seventh nationally with 17 interceptions and placed 10th with a 17.4 scoring defense, which was the program’s best finish since the 2017 season. Alabama was also 10th in the country in pass efficiency defense (112.38), 11th in fumble recoveries (11), 16th on third down (32.8%), 19th in pass defense (182.2) and 21st in total defense (320.1). Three of Hitschler’s defenders were named All-SEC.
Prior to his year in Tuscaloosa, Hitschler spent six seasons on Luke Fickell’s staffs at Wisconsin in 2023 and Cincinnati from 2018-22. He was co-defensive coordinator for his lone season at Wisconsin and final year at Cincinnati while also serving as the Bearcats’ safeties coach from 2020-22.
During the 2023 season, the Badgers’ defense ranked 20th nationally in scoring defense (20.2) and 25th in interceptions (13) and held eight of 13 opponents to 21 points or fewer. Hitschler mentored safety Hunter Wohler to a team-leading 120 tackles, the most for a Wisconsin defensive back in 32 years, and to All-Big Ten Second Team status.
Hitschler’s time with Cincinnati saw the Bearcats turn in a record of 53-10 over five seasons, which included at least nine victories in each year and three 11-win campaigns. Cincinnati went 33-5 in American Athletic Conference (AAC) games along its way to two conference championships, five consecutive bowl game appearances and four seasons in the top-25 of the final AP poll. In 2021, Cincinnati ascended to the CFP for the first time after going 12-0 in the regular season and capturing the AAC title. The Bearcats finished the year 13-1 after competing in the Cotton Bowl for the CFP Semifinals.
Cincinnati also claimed bowl championships in the 2018 Military Bowl and 2019 Birmingham Bowl, defeating Atlantic Coast Conference teams each time. It also advanced to the Peach Bowl in 2020, finishing 9-1 after falling to Georgia, 24-21, in the bowl game. Over his final three seasons, the Bearcats ranked top-25 nationally in both total defense and scoring defense every year, including top-10 in 2020 and 2021.
Hitschler coached four Cincinnati defensive backs to All-America status while five were drafted into the NFL: safeties Bryan Cook, Darrick Forrest and James Wiggins and cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant. Hitschler began his stint at Cincinnati as a defensive quality control coach in 2018 before being promoted to senior defensive analyst in 2019, working under then defensive coordinator and current Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
Before Cincinnati, Hitschler spent five seasons in the Sun Belt, as he coached four seasons at South Alabama from 2014-17 and one at Arkansas State in 2013. He coached safeties in 2017, was director of football operations and outside linebackers coach from 2015-16 and began as a graduate assistant with the nickels in 2014. While with South Alabama, Hitschler coached 2017 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year safety Jeremy Reaves who set a program record with eight interceptions.
Hitschler worked with the Red Wolves’ defensive line in his one season as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State.
Hitschler spent two seasons at the NCAA Division III ranks with stops at Salve Regina in 2011 and Widener in 2012. At Salve Regina in Rhode Island, Hitschler served on Chesney’s staff as his co-special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. The Philadelphia native returned closer to home in 2012 at Widener where he was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach.
Hitschler began his coaching career in 2010 as a player personnel assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hitschler, a former NCAA Division I wrestler, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and commerce. He and his wife, Rebecca, have three children: Catherine, Isabel and Christopher.
Hitschler’s Coaching Experience
2009 – Training Camp Assistant, Philadelphia Eagles
2010 – Player Personnel Assistant, Kansas City Chiefs
2011 – Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Line, Salve Regina (NCAA DIII)
2012 – Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs, Widener (NCAA DIII)
2013 – Graduate Assistant, Arkansas State
2014 – Graduate Assistant, South Alabama
2015, 2016 – Outside Linebackers/Director of Operations, South Alabama
2017 – Safeties, South Alabama
2018 – Quality Control Coach, Cincinnati
2019 – Senior Defensive Analyst, Cincinnati
2020, 2021 – Safeties, Cincinnati
2022 – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Cincinnati
2023 – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Wisconsin
2024 – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs, Alabama
2025 – Defensive Coordinator, James Madison
2026 – Defensive Coordinator, UCLA
Hitschler has reached the College Football Playoff (CFP) twice in a defensive coordinator role, earning berths at James Madison in 2025 and Cincinnati in 2021. He was previously named the 2020 Football Scoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year and listed to On3’s 2022 Rising Star Assistants You Need to Know.
The 2026 campaign marks Hitschler’s 16th year in coaching, including his 15th at the collegiate ranks. Hitschler has now served on head coach Bob Chesney’s staffs at three different schools.
Most recently, Hitschler and Chesney helped James Madison reach new heights in their one year together in Harrisonburg, Va. in 2025. The Dukes recorded just the 10th unbeaten conference record in Sun Belt history, going 8-0, and captured the program’s first Sun Belt Championship. James Madison secured a spot in the CFP for the first time in school history with the No. 12 seed and earned its highest AP ranking in program history at No. 19. The Dukes finished the season with a 12-2 record following their CFP First Round appearance.
Hitschler presided over one of the nation’s elite defenses in his one season at James Madison, ranking fifth in the FBS with 266.6 yards allowed per game and 14th with 18.4 points allowed per game. The Dukes held opponents to under 200 yards of total offense in five contests and led the Sun Belt with 181.6 passing yards allowed per game. After halftime, Hitschler’s defense pitched six shutouts and limited opponents to an average of just 5.4 points. James Madison was also eighth in the country in third down defense (29.4%), 10th in defensive touchdowns (3), 28th in sacks per game (2.57) and 32nd in tackles for loss per game (6.2).
Eight players from Hitschler’s 2025 defensive unit were named All-Sun Belt, including the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year linebacker Trent Hendrick and Freshman of the Year defensive lineman Sahir West. Hendrick led the Dukes with 106 total tackles while West ranked second among all freshmen in the nation with 7.0 sacks and was third in the Sun Belt with 14.0 tackles for loss.
Prior to James Madison, Hitschler served as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Alabama in 2024. In his lone season in Tuscaloosa, Hitschler helped the Crimson tide to a 9-4 record and No. 11 ranking in the final CFP rankings prior to the postseason. Under the direction of Hitschler, Alabama ranked fifth in the FBS and second in the Southeastern Conference with 28 takeaways. His safeties group, highlighted by All-SEC First Team performer Malachi Moore, forced 16 of those 28 opposing turnovers.
The Tide were seventh nationally with 17 interceptions and placed 10th with a 17.4 scoring defense, which was the program’s best finish since the 2017 season. Alabama was also 10th in the country in pass efficiency defense (112.38), 11th in fumble recoveries (11), 16th on third down (32.8%), 19th in pass defense (182.2) and 21st in total defense (320.1). Three of Hitschler’s defenders were named All-SEC.
Prior to his year in Tuscaloosa, Hitschler spent six seasons on Luke Fickell’s staffs at Wisconsin in 2023 and Cincinnati from 2018-22. He was co-defensive coordinator for his lone season at Wisconsin and final year at Cincinnati while also serving as the Bearcats’ safeties coach from 2020-22.
During the 2023 season, the Badgers’ defense ranked 20th nationally in scoring defense (20.2) and 25th in interceptions (13) and held eight of 13 opponents to 21 points or fewer. Hitschler mentored safety Hunter Wohler to a team-leading 120 tackles, the most for a Wisconsin defensive back in 32 years, and to All-Big Ten Second Team status.
Hitschler’s time with Cincinnati saw the Bearcats turn in a record of 53-10 over five seasons, which included at least nine victories in each year and three 11-win campaigns. Cincinnati went 33-5 in American Athletic Conference (AAC) games along its way to two conference championships, five consecutive bowl game appearances and four seasons in the top-25 of the final AP poll. In 2021, Cincinnati ascended to the CFP for the first time after going 12-0 in the regular season and capturing the AAC title. The Bearcats finished the year 13-1 after competing in the Cotton Bowl for the CFP Semifinals.
Cincinnati also claimed bowl championships in the 2018 Military Bowl and 2019 Birmingham Bowl, defeating Atlantic Coast Conference teams each time. It also advanced to the Peach Bowl in 2020, finishing 9-1 after falling to Georgia, 24-21, in the bowl game. Over his final three seasons, the Bearcats ranked top-25 nationally in both total defense and scoring defense every year, including top-10 in 2020 and 2021.
Hitschler coached four Cincinnati defensive backs to All-America status while five were drafted into the NFL: safeties Bryan Cook, Darrick Forrest and James Wiggins and cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant. Hitschler began his stint at Cincinnati as a defensive quality control coach in 2018 before being promoted to senior defensive analyst in 2019, working under then defensive coordinator and current Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
Before Cincinnati, Hitschler spent five seasons in the Sun Belt, as he coached four seasons at South Alabama from 2014-17 and one at Arkansas State in 2013. He coached safeties in 2017, was director of football operations and outside linebackers coach from 2015-16 and began as a graduate assistant with the nickels in 2014. While with South Alabama, Hitschler coached 2017 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year safety Jeremy Reaves who set a program record with eight interceptions.
Hitschler worked with the Red Wolves’ defensive line in his one season as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State.
Hitschler spent two seasons at the NCAA Division III ranks with stops at Salve Regina in 2011 and Widener in 2012. At Salve Regina in Rhode Island, Hitschler served on Chesney’s staff as his co-special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. The Philadelphia native returned closer to home in 2012 at Widener where he was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach.
Hitschler began his coaching career in 2010 as a player personnel assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hitschler, a former NCAA Division I wrestler, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and commerce. He and his wife, Rebecca, have three children: Catherine, Isabel and Christopher.
Hitschler’s Coaching Experience
2009 – Training Camp Assistant, Philadelphia Eagles
2010 – Player Personnel Assistant, Kansas City Chiefs
2011 – Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Line, Salve Regina (NCAA DIII)
2012 – Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs, Widener (NCAA DIII)
2013 – Graduate Assistant, Arkansas State
2014 – Graduate Assistant, South Alabama
2015, 2016 – Outside Linebackers/Director of Operations, South Alabama
2017 – Safeties, South Alabama
2018 – Quality Control Coach, Cincinnati
2019 – Senior Defensive Analyst, Cincinnati
2020, 2021 – Safeties, Cincinnati
2022 – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Cincinnati
2023 – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Wisconsin
2024 – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs, Alabama
2025 – Defensive Coordinator, James Madison
2026 – Defensive Coordinator, UCLA
The First 48 Hours - Head Coach Bob Chesney Welcomed at UCLA
Friday, December 12
Bruin Insider Show - Bob Chesney (Dec. 10, 2025)
Wednesday, December 10
Cinematic Recap - UCLA Introduces Head Coach Bob Chesney (Dec. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, December 09
Bob Chesney Introductory Press Conference (Dec. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, December 09
