TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer announced the hiring of Kane Wommack on Monday to serve as the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator.
Wommack (pronounced WAH-mick), who will also coach inside linebackers, comes to Tuscaloosa after spending the past three years as head coach at South Alabama. He posted a 22-16 record with the Jaguars, qualifying for back-to-back bowl games and winning the 2023 Ventures 68 Bowl.
“Building a staff is so critical to your success as a head coach and Kane Wommack is a key piece to what we are working to accomplish at Alabama,” DeBoer said. “He is one of the best defensive minds in college football. Kane will play a huge role in helping us build the kind of culture that is required to win football games.”
Wommack’s experience includes six years as the defensive coordinator at three different schools. His first coordinator job was at Eastern Illinois in 2014-15, and he followed that by serving at the DC for two years at South Alabama (2016-17). After coaching linebackers for one year at Indiana, Wommack was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2019-20 seasons.
“Growing up in the SEC, you know what it means to play football in Tuscaloosa,” Wommack said. “Watching Alabama football from the outside, it was always impressive and intimidating, and you always want to be part of something truly special. The standard that Alabama has established is impressive, and we are excited to be the next group that gets to build upon that legacy. Having this opportunity with a friend like Kalen DeBoer, who I know, trust and believe in, makes it all the sweeter, and we are certainly excited to be in Tuscaloosa.”
Under his leadership, South Alabama won the program’s first bowl game in school history in 2023, making back-to-back bowl appearances (2022-23). The Jaguars won the Sun Belt Conference Western Division in 2022 and tied the school record with 10 wins that season. He also recorded the program’s first two winning seasons in FBS history.
Wommack’s “Swarm Defense” produced resounding success in three seasons in Bloomington – two as the defensive coordinator. In 2020, he was a candidate for the Broyles Award and helped the Hoosiers lead the Big Ten Conference and the country in red zone defense (57.9 percent), rank second nationally in interceptions (17) and 13th in takeaways (20). In his first year (2019) as the youngest Power 5 defensive coordinator, Wommack led IU to top-50 rankings nationally in scoring, total, rush and pass defense.
Wommack was the South Alabama defensive coordinator and linebackers coach during the 2016 and 2017 campaigns where his units recorded 20 takeaways in each of those seasons. His 2016 group was among the top 10 in the country in passing defense (174.6 ypg). In 2017, the Jaguars were in the top 15 nationally in both red zone defense and fumble recoveries.
Prior to his arrival at South Alabama, Wommack was the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Eastern Illinois, where he helped the Panthers make an appearance in the FCS playoffs. EIU’s defense ranked second nationally in interceptions (19), third in takeaways (31), fourth in pass efficiency defense (103.0), eighth in red zone defense (67.3 percent) and 10th in tackles for loss (98).
Wommack began his coaching career at UT Martin (2010), went to Jacksonville State (2011) as a graduate assistant and then served as a graduate assistant at Ole Miss (2012-13).
He began his collegiate playing career at Arkansas, where he was a fullback and helped the Razorbacks win the SEC West title his second year. After transferring to Southern Mississippi, Wommack helped the Golden Eagles to three straight bowl appearances. He graduated from USM with a degree in political science (2009).
Wommack and his wife, Melissa, have three sons: Asher, Tatum and Jones. His father, Dave, has more than 35 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level, including serving as defensive coordinator at Ole Miss before retiring following the 2016 season.
While appropriate members of The Board of Trustees have been notified of the proposed terms and conditions of this proposed appointment, the financial terms remain subject to approval by The Board of Trustees.
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