Alabama’s new head coach, Kalen DeBoer, is making significant moves to shape his coaching staff, with sources confirming to ESPN on Monday that South Alabama’s head coach, Kane Wommack, is set to become the Crimson Tide’s new defensive coordinator.
DeBoer and Wommack share a history, having worked together on Indiana’s staff in 2019. During that time, DeBoer served as the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator, while Wommack took on the role of defensive coordinator. The chemistry between the two is expected to bring a cohesive approach to Alabama’s coaching setup.
Wommack, at the age of 36, has just concluded his third season as South Alabama’s head coach, achieving notable success by leading the Jaguars to bowl games in each of the past two seasons. South Alabama’s remarkable 10-win performance in 2022 marked a historic achievement for the FBS program.
In 2020, during Wommack’s final season as Indiana’s defensive coordinator, he garnered recognition as a finalist for the Broyles Award, honoring the country’s top assistant coach. Under his leadership, the Hoosiers topped the Big Ten with 20 forced turnovers. Wommack’s promotion from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator in 2019 made him the youngest Power 5 defensive coordinator at the time.
Wommack’s coaching lineage includes his father, Dave Wommack, a seasoned 35-year coaching veteran who served as the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss from 2012 to 2016. Kane Wommack collaborated with recently appointed Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen during his time at Ole Miss and later joined Allen as the defensive coordinator at Indiana.
South Alabama’s defensive prowess under Wommack’s guidance is evident in their national rankings. In 2023, the Jaguars secured the 15th spot in total defense, allowing an average of 313.2 yards per game, and tied for 27th in scoring defense, permitting 21 points per game. The success continued in 2022, where they ranked 26th in scoring defense, holding opponents to 21.3 points per game.
DeBoer’s coaching revamp includes the expected arrival of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb from Washington, along with other coaches and assistants from the Huskies’ 2023 staff. Notably, running backs coach Robert Gillespie and defensive line coach Freddie Roach are anticipated to be retained from Saban’s previous staff at Alabama, providing a mix of continuity and fresh perspectives to the Crimson Tide’s coaching lineup.