The new defensive coordinator for the University of Alabama will have a much shorter drive to his new office than his new head coach.

Kane Wommack resigned from his head football coaching post at South Alabama on Tuesday, Jan. 16, to accept the defensive coordinator position for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer was named Alabama’s next head football coach on Friday, Jan. 12, after Nick Saban’s retirement on Jan. 10.

Wommack led the Jaguars to their first bowl win in program history this season after they registered 15th in total defense among all FBS teams. With 4,072 yards allowed on 813 plays, South Alabama opponents gained 5.01 yards per play, which tied for 20th in the nation with none other than the Crimson Tide (4,424 yards on 883 plays).

Over three seasons as the Jaguars’ head coach, Wommack finished with a 22-16 overall record with back-to-back postseason bowl berths. The 10-3 record from 2022 was the best in program history, and last year’s 7-6 mark was second best.

DeBoer (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach) and Wommack (defensive coordinator and linebackers coach) were on the same staff in 2019 at Indiana and helped deliver the Hoosiers’ first 8-win season in 15 years. That season, Indiana also checked into the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1994.

The pair recently caught up when Washington started its College Football Playoff run in New Orleans in the Sugar Bowl against Texas on New Year’s Day. Wommack took his sons Asher and Tatum to visit with the Huskies, who went on to play for the National Championship. Two weeks later, they were reunited on staff of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Local ripple effects

The South Alabama Jaguars’ 2023 roster featured nine former Baldwin County players where only one played his senior season, Daphne’s Diego Guajardo who became the program’s all-time scoring leader. Another big piece in Foley lineman Logan Joellenbeck is also signed to join South Alabama from the Class of 2024.

An early favorite for the Jaguars’ next head coach according to current players looked to be offensive coordinator Major Applewhite who head coached the Houston Cougars in 2017 and 2018.

MAJOR APPLEWHITE!!!

— CJ Johnson (@CarlosJr_90) January 16, 2024

Applewhite has served as South Alabama’s offensive coordinator since 2021 after a stint at Alabama as an analyst in 2019 and 2020. He was also the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator in 2007 and was a four-year quarterback at Texas from 1998-2001 where he threw for 8,353 yards and 60 touchdowns.

"I deeply appreciate Kane's service to our program, university and city," said South Alabama Director of Athletics Joel Erdmann. "His efforts propelled us forward and we wish him and Melissa the very best."