The Kalen DeBoer era of the Alabama Crimson Tide is progressing in the coaching staff building, with DeBoer enlisting South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack as his defensive coordinator.
Kalen DeBoer is expected to hire South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack as his DC at Alabama, barring something unforeseen.
?: https://t.co/yqTURWmFFB pic.twitter.com/dF83ss3rkX
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) January 16, 2024
This is how South Alabama's defense did last season:
- Points Allowed: 21.3 (23rd)
- 1st Quarter Points Allowed: 4.3 (25th)
- 2nd Quarter Points Allowed: 7.1 (46th)
- 3rd Quarter Points Allowed: 3.6 (11th)
- 4th Quarter Points Allowed: 6.4 (57th)
- Yards Allowed Per Game: 304.6 (10th)
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 118 (22nd)
- Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 186.6 (15th)
According to On3, DeBoer contacted Wommack before interviewing Travaris Robinson this past Sunday. There's history between DeBoer and Wommack, as they coached together in 2019 while both were at Indiana.
Then, DeBoer was the associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach. At the same time, Wommack was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
In 2020, Wommack was Indiana's defensive coordinator, too. He was a finalist for the Broyles Award, and the Hoosiers led the Big Ten in interceptions with 17 and a red zone conversion rate of 64%.
Wommack, 36, has already had a lengthy coaching career:
- 2010: UT Martin QB coach
- 2011: Jacksonville State GA/DL coach
- 2012-2013: Ole Miss GA/S coach
- 2014-2015: Eastern Illinois DC
- 2016-2017: South Alabama DC/LB coach
- 2018: Indiana LB coach
- 2019-2020: Indiana DC/LB coach
- 2021-2023: South Alabama HC
- 2024: Alabama DC
Wommack is the latest member of the DeBoer coaching staff, which now has an expected seven coaches on the staff already, per On3:
- Ryan Grubb, OC/QB coach
- JaMarcus Shephard, WR coach
- Scott Huff, OL coach
- Nick Sheridan, TE coach
- Robert Gillespie, RB coach
- Kane Wommack, DC
- Freddie Roach, DL coach
Now, leading up to the 2024 season, we look to see what players stay and which leave the program, but either way, the Crimson Tide's future with DeBoer is taking shape quickly in a post-Nick Saban era of the program.
Despite plenty of activity in the transfer portal. DeBoer is hoping to keep the Crimson Tide in the conversation as a regular national title contender.
